Guest writer, Nikki Yazxhi, editor and creator of Bella Mumma shares hair, make-up and skincare advice - the insider beauty tips to get glowing on your wedding day.
One of the biggest things you need to keep in mind for your wedding day is: You don't have to entirely reinvent your hair makeup look just because it's your wedding. You already know the products and colours that make you look the most beautiful, so why risk trying an all-new palette or look for such a special day? You're going to be wearing the most gorgeous gown, carrying beautiful flowers and standing by the man you love, so you don't really need to change much about your makeup. You want to still look like yourself. So, saying that, here are our insider tips to have you looking unbelievably gorgeous, but still like you…
Your Make-Up
Use a primer: Even if primer isn't part of your daily makeup routine, it's perfect hard-wearing product to wear on your wedding day. It will absorb excess oil, fill in large pores and help your make-up blend onto your skin so it looks more believably. Tinted ones can also help offset any redness in your skin.
Avoid creamy products: Blushes, eyeliners and eyeshadows with a creamy consistency are easy to apply, but they tend to soak into skin as hours pass and lose their vibrancy.
Let one feature shine: To avoid an overly shiny or sparkly look (especially if your wedding is outdoors), choose one feature to use shine on, and keep the rest of your face relatively matte. So if your eyeshadow has shimmer to it, choose a sheer semi-matte lip colour instead of a gloss.
Re-think using bronzer: Although you might feel more beautiful looking sun-kissed, try to resist going crazy with your bronzer as cameras tend to really pick up on yellows and oranges. Even if you look a little bronzed in real life, you could end up looking carrot-hued in your photos. It’s made even worse if the rest of your bridal party hasn’t kept up with the same sunshine/spray tan/bronzer routine. The same goes for glitter and other luminescent lotions. They can end up looking like sweat, not sparkle - and tend to rub off on everyone you hug.
Stain your lips: Forget regular lipstick for your wedding - it'll constantly come off, whether on the rim of your champagne glass, your relative’s cheek or your new hubby's lips. For lip colour that stays put, use a sheer stain or a pigment-rich lip pencil instead. If you want a shinier finish, dab some matching lipstick on top (or even some gloss or balm).
Keep the centre of your face matte: For the most flattering look in photos, especially when using a flash, keep the middle zone of your face shine-free by dusting translucent powder on the corners of your nose, your chin, forehead and between the eyebrows. (Keep your cheeks and eye area powder-free to give you radiant glow.) For mess-free touch-ups, keep blotting papers in your handbag.
Don't forget about your brows: Perfectly groomed brows will frame your face in photos, and will give you a polished look even if you're wearing minimal eye makeup. Consider investing in a professional brow grooming about a week before your big day (to avoid day-of redness); it'll make a big difference. And on the day, use a powder that's a few shades lighter than your natural brow colour, to avoid making them too dark or harsh.
Check your neck: Wearing a white dress with a dramatic neckline can highlight unevenness in your skin tone - something that will also look noticeable in photos. So while applying foundation, make sure your face, neck and décolletage are all the same shade.
Your Hair
The wedding-friendly cut: A layered haircut is more wedding-photo-friendly because it has great shape and movement from every angle. No matter what your hair's length or style, get your ends shaped and have some layering customised into your cut.
The perfect curl: If you're curling your hair, think soft and loose. Skip sausage curls and precision tendrils: the most update curl style comes from bouncy end curl, which is created with a curling iron that's used just from mid-strand to the ends.
Style strategy: Your hairstyle should go perfectly with the cut of your gown. If you have a simple gown, choose an uncomplicated hairstyle. Choose a hairstyle that will be comfortable and won’t be difficult to maintain.
* If you have short hair, add highlights to enhance the richness. You may also have hair treatments or try products that will add shine. Flowers also look good on short hair.
* If you have a long hair, think about wearing your hair up for an elegant look and to minimise the need for maintaining it, since you will be busy the whole day.