Bridesmaid Beauty

Hey there, lovely bridesmaids! We know you want to shine as you accompany your best gal down the aisle. To help you, this blog provides easy-to-follow skincare and makeup tips. Let us guide you through skin prep, product selection, and shade matching, ensuring you look absolutely breathtaking on the big day. Dive in and let’s get you aisle-ready! 💘

First things first, prep!

To ensure the absolute best results, it is so important to prep your skin perfectly. That starts with cleansing, adding your favourite eye cream, serum, moisturiser, SPF and a lovely primer! Also, the night before I personally would add some tanning drops to my night time moisturiser so to wake up with a gorgeous, natural glow. I just feel my base always looks better and I look healthier and radiant. I love the Isle of Paradise Self- Tanning Face Drops that can be mixed into your moisturiser and applied together. Also the utan X Jamie Self Tanning Water which is applied like a mist all over the face and neck and develops throughout the night. It’s infused with antibacterial properties so also helps battle breakouts!

First things first, cleanse! A light, exfoliating cleanser will be brilliant for prepping and polishing the skin to make sure any dirt, dead skin or any existing make-up or skincare if washed off, I love ExfoliKate Cleanser Daily Facial Wash by Kate Somerville, it’s so gentle and always leaves the skin smooth and glowy. Another favourite is the Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, it effortlessly melts in the skin and removed with a warm facial cloth for the most clean, bright, prepped skin.
Here are some more of my favourites for beautiful bridesmaid skin:

Rare Beauty – Find Comfort Hydrating Under Eye Patches , these are perfect for the whole bridal party as there are 8 pairs in the packet, which can be kept in the fridge for optimal cooling effects! They infuse the delicate eye area with hydration, instantly de-puffs and leaves the area feeling refreshed and revived before any make-up is applied.

Finding a great eye cream to be applied before your make-up is essential for reducing dark circles and hydrating the area and much like the eye patches it can smooth and de-puff your under eyes for a more seamless application. I love an eye cream with a metal applicator as it feels so soothing and it’s so much easier to apply, much like the Advanced Génifique Light Pearl Serum by Lancôme. I also really rate the Fenty Skin Flash Nap Instant Revival Eye Gel-Cream, it’s so lightweight and non-greasy which is the perfect combo for a make-up base. The cooling gel/cream formula is instantly soothing and gives incredible all day hydration.

Hydrating and calming serums are definitely your go to! I’d really recommend prepping the skin with skincare that is water-based skin care rather than oil products. These will ensure a lightweight, hydrating and non greasy feel. It’ll also be so much easy to apply the connective laters on top without interruption, making everything way less likely to pill. Something like the Redness Relief Serum by REN. From only 30 minutes your skin will be visibly less red and so much calmer, the texture is so lovely and the skin feels so supple! I will always recommend Estée Lauder’s – Advanced Night Repair Serum as the most perfect product for radiance boosting! Infused with gorgeous ingredients and vitamins it leaves the skin firmer, hydrated, soothed and with an even tone!

Next in you routine would be to moisturise! Bobbi Brown’s Vitamin Enriched Face Base is a perfect option as it’s rich, yet so lightweight! The skin feels beautifully nourished, offers instant radiance and is made for layering under make-up creating a flawless base. Clinique – Moisture Surge is also a great option! It’s oil free and infused with hyaluronic acid for lovely hydration and glow. It makes for another incredible base for make-up. I’ve also been loving The Dewy Skin Cream by Tatcha, on the slightly more expensive side by my god how it delivers! The formula is so unique, it provides long-lasting hydration and a gorgeous, gorgeous glow!

Now, onto SPF! You may be attending an outdoor wedding or a sunny destination wedding but either rain or shine it should always be a non-negotiable in your skincare routine. The Supreme Screen Hydrating Facial Skinscreen by Ultra Violette is silky, lightweight and have always found works incredible under make-up. It not only protects you at the highest degree but hydrates and also primes the skin perfectly! It’s no secret but the Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid by La Roche-Posay is also a hero product! I love how supple, nourished and protected my skin feels and there’s absolutely no sticky residue, which is key when layering with make-up!

After using your SPF you can go in with a primer, there are many benefits of primers including smoothing out fine lines, wrinkles and pores, helps to even out the skin tone and boosts the skins radiance! My top wedding proof primers start with Laura Mercier’s Pure Canvas Illuminating Primer, it’s one that I’ve used for years and can’t recommend enough. It adds a natural-looking luminosity to the skin and creates a flawless canvas and extended wear for your foundation. I also love  Skin Nova by Vieve, a staple in my make-up bag at the moment as it adds the most dreamy, dewy veil perfectly. Make-up just glides on so well after applying and your skin will also be enriched with skin loving ingredients that will not only prime but hydrate and illuminate. The MAC Studio Fix Mattifine Primer is a 12-hour shine control dream! It feels weightless, velvetly and banishes oil, sweat and humidity! I also would really rate the Revitalessence Skin Glow Primer by Shiseido as it’s incredible skincare properties look after the skin whilst also delivering 24 hours of ‘pillow-like luminosity’ whilst prepping and priming the skin beautifully. Last but not least I’m really loving  Burberry’s Beyond Radiance Primer. It hydrates the skin for up to 24 hours and glides on so effortlessly, providing a lightweight luminous base.

When doing my own makeup at home I would usually start with the base, but if you’re using pigments, glitter or shimmer, it may be safer to start with the eyes to prevent any drop off going onto your face makeup. Or alternatively you could use eyeshadow pads or shadow shields, these will stop any of your eye product dropping onto the skin care underneath. They’re also great for creating a clean line for your eyeshadow or a perfect winged eyeliner by placing them at the angle you desire.

Let’s talk makeup!

Foundations & Concealer: There are a few products I have used time and time again for weddings and events that last all day, have amazing coverage and a photo-friendly finish! It’s so important to apply your foundation with a brush on a day where you’ll probably be wearing it longer than usual. No matter how clean our hands are, we still have natural oils on our finger tips and the excess oils can cause foundation to slip throughout the day.

To start I love the Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation and the concealer as well! I’ve used both in my kit since the very beginning. The radiant semi-matte coverage delivers skin that glows without looking overly shiny and there’s no need for touch-ups. SurrealSkin Liquid Foundation by Makeup by Mario is another great pick! It evens out skin tone, has a lovely buildable formula with a medium to full coverage all the while looking like a second skin, when wearing my skin looks incredibly smooth! Clé de Peau Radiant Fluid Foundation is another dream product for wedding makeup. It comes in 31 shades and has a staying power of, wait for it… 24 hours! It feels invisible but has the most beautiful coverage and soft satin finish. Next up, a hero product that has been around for years, Studio Fix Fluid by MAC. It has amazing coverage and is has a slightly more matte finish than the others. However you can create a more natural look but is brilliantly buildable for something more full! Lastly, one that I get requested quite often is the CC Cream by IT Cosmetics and I totally get why! It’s colour correcting, brightening, hydrating and really has a beautiful, seamless finish.

The power of concealer is amazing, it can brighten areas of the face, cover dark spots, blemishes, pigmentation, acne marks and so on! My favourites begin with the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, it blends like butter into the skin and just pulls the whole skin tone together, it’s weightless but full coverage and in my opinion one of the bests! Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer is another beautiful product that is made for wedding makeup, as it’s crease and water proof! It blurs and brightens for up to 16 hours really gives an airbrushed finish, stunning!

Using a powder, set the areas you don’t want any shine such as the T-zone, this will create a flawless finish and set the foundation and concealer. Here are some powders that are perfect for longevity and smoothness… Firstly I love the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder, the fine, airy texture smooths beautifully onto the skin giving a soft matte, blurred finish. It sets the make-up for up to 16 hours and comes in three translucent shades to match your skin tone. Another popular one is Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder. Not only does it instantly diminish unwanted shine, but it brightens and leaves the skin looking flawless, with just the right amount of luminosity. By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder is another one of my all time faves! I find this sets so perfectly and feels SO silky which is thanks to the hydrating Hyaluronic acid in the formula. It comes in both loose and pressed formula.

Bronzers, Blush & Highlight: A bronzer will be the next step to achieve a gorgeous bronze glow! I have so many faves in both cream and powder formulas and we really are spoilt for choice in this department! Before anything it’s important to get the right product for your skin tone to avoid any ashiness or looking orange! You want something to just lift and enhance your natural warmth.

To begin I’m a massive lover of Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream by Chanel. This cream-gel formula has a matte finish and gives the most delicate, velvety and natural looking colour. The way it blends into the skin is flawless and can be built upon so easily. If you’re looking for something with a lil shimmer, the Hourglass Ambient Lightning Bronzer is just gorgeous! The light-reflecting pigments in this dual-toned baked bronzer give off just the right amount of radiance. The Bronze Balm by Merit is a fabulous sculpting bronzer that is a dream to apply. I love how you can map out exactly where you want it, then just buff into the skin leaving a subtle, warm contoured effect. Up next, has to be Vieve’s Modern Bronzer… With two bronzed shades to sculpt and add warmth this bronzer will leave you looking like a goddess. It has the most beautiful soft-satin finish and comes in 4 different colour ways. (Oh and their Modern Radiance Cream Bronzer is lovely too!)

I would always apply bronzer into areas where the sun would naturally hit. Such as across cheekbones, over the temples, across the forehead, down the nose and possibly a little on the chin and jawline.

To add a gorgeous pop of colour add your favourite blush along the top of the cheekbones and swipe a little onto the apple of your cheek, this will bring light and warmth to your look. For a fresh and subtle wash of colour I’m loving the Soft Pinch Liquid Blush by Rare Beauty. The shades are so beautiful and they’re super lightweight, blendable and long-wearing! Another liquid blush I think would be perfect and is new to the market is the Unreal Liquid Blush from Hourglass. The pigment of these blushers are incredible and give such a seamless coverage with a gorgeous natural flush. If you prefer a power product, Dior’s Rosy Glow Blush is another one of my faves, I love how impactful the pigment is whilst still looking really natural, fresh and radiant. The blush reacts with the skin’s pH and moisture level for long-wearing “custom” colour.

If you want to add a touch of highlight, add to the high points of your face such as the top of the cheekbones, a little on the tip of the nose, on the cupids bow, under the highest point of the eyebrow and possibly into the inner point of your eye in between the eye and the nose. This will attract the light and enhance your skin tone, creating a stunning finish to your look. You could try the this absolute classic by MAC (Mineralise Skin Finish Powder Highlighter) which gives a velvety soft, radiant finish. For liquid options, I also love Vieve’s Nova Glow Liquid Light which gives the look of delicate glass skin whilst delivering incredible staying power!

Eyes & Lips: I feel like a classic smokey, matte eye is perfect for any wedding! Liner is essential for me as well to bring the whole look together and really makes everything look so tidy and enhances your eyes beautifully! Using a soft kohl pencil, gently press and draw into the lash line, this will make your lashes look even longer and fuller. You could like add a little above the lash line and blend into your smokey eye look to create dimension, definition and a flawless blend. The Natasha Denona Glam Palette is a perfect all rounder and one of my all time favourites! The colours are a dream to blend and you can create so many looks with all of the shades and finishes. Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette’s are also gorgeous! I especially love the Pillow Talk palette as the pearly pink, dusky rose, soft brown and the shimmering rose gold shades give an ultimate wedding look!

To pull the look together choose a great mascara! It will be emotional so I would always consider picking a waterproof ❤️. The Lash Sensational Sky High Waterproof Mascara is amazing! It holds your lashes perfectly in place all day and gives incredible length and volume. Another mascara that is not only smudge proof and long-wearing but lengthens, lifts and conditions with every swipe is Future Lash by Victoria Beckham. It gives full, fluttery lashes that everyone would love. For a fuller look and more drama for the big day YSL Lash Clash is a winner, it creates oversized, smudge proof, voluminous lashes that lasts up to 24 hours, so you can go all day and throughout the night without any top ups!

For a full day of kissing, drinking, eating and speaking LOTS; prepping your lips will do wonders for the saying power of your lipstick. You could use a light exfoliating mask like this lovely one from Tatcha or the Laneige Sleeping Mask the night before to get the best results. Before applying your lipstick, using a primer like the Prep + Prime Lip by Mac, will add a light moisture and smooth them whilst also providing longevity to the make-up.

Choosing a nude tone for a wedding is a so popular, it’s a classic choice because it is forever in style and goes with most make-up looks. There are so many gorgeous lipsticks, shades, finishes and price points to choose from, but here a few of my favourites… First up is is the ever so popular In Love with Olivia by Charlotte Tilbury. This hydrating and pout perfecting peachy/pink lipstick is so long lasting has has a light glossy cream finish. I’m also SUCH a lover of Victoria Beckham’s Posh Lipstick in ‘Pout’. It’s my go-to for luscious, vibrant lips and locks in hydration for all day comfort and fab, fuller-looking lips. Faux by MAC is also an absolute classic! The warmed toned pink shade is perfect for a wedding look and the satin finish gives a soft cushiony feel. Last but not least is Suzuran Nude by Sensai, it feels extremely luxurious and the blend of silky powders in the anti-aging formula coats the lips with incredible colour for the most beautiful voluptuous pout.

If you’re looking for a gloss to pop onto of your lipstick, I’m loving the Addict Lip Maximizer Plumping Lip Glosses by Dior, they gently plump the lip and feel so smooth without being sticky!

With all makeup & skincare products definitely test them all out at least 3 months before the day to make sure you don’t have any adverse effects and to get used to the products themselves I.e how they feel/look on your skin, the staying power and if you need to tweak at all to get the best results for you! I hope you all have a gorgeous summer of love and if you are a bridesmaid this year, have the most iconic time! Love you all! 🫶