There’s the most beautiful quote that says: “Right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale.” For all you lovely wedding-belles-to-be, your upcoming Big Day is that fairy tale.
To make sure you glide down the aisle looking and feeling like the most beautiful version of yourself, today I’ve put together a trousseau of the best beauty treatments and products to invest in for your special day. Some of the treatments will need to be started a few months in advance to get the maximum benefit.
Planning a wedding can be a stressful time, so remember the importance of eating and sleeping well and drinking lots of water to ensure you’re looking your best — make-up can only do so much. We’re not forgetting the rest of the bridal party either: all of these products and treatments would also be good for bridesmaids, mothers of the bride and groom, and some for the groom too!
Bridal beauty prep
10 treatments & products to try
1/ All in white
Wedding photography requires a mega-watt smile, so prepare for your close-up with an at-home bleaching kit. iWhite Instant, €29.99, is really gentle on your teeth as it’s peroxide-free and super easy to use. Just pop the trays in (no need to clean or boil mouthpieces, mess with syringes or brushes, measure gel or use special toothpastes or rinses) and get a smile up to eight shades whiter. From pharmacies nationwide.
2/ Blushing bride
If you have scars, lines, large pores or acne, think about getting a specialised skin treatment in the months leading up to your wedding. The Rejuvopen Micro Needling Treatment at The Marker Spa in Dublin is a skin renewal technique that stimulates the production of new collagen using the skin’s natural ability to heal itself. It costs €265 for one session, or €950 for a course of four. Email [email protected].
3/ Tears of joy
Afraid you’ll cry and smudge your make-up? Ditch the mascara and invest in an LVL Lash Lift, €60, before your big day. LVL stands for length, volume and lift, and means that the lashes are permed and tinted. From salons nationwide.
4/ Wedding bouquet
Scent has strong links to memory, so put some thought into your wedding day perfume. If you like soft scents, walk down the aisle in a mist of vanilla, lotus flower and jasmine with Huda Kayali Vanilla, €98.50, from Arnotts, Brown Thomas nationwide. If you’d prefer something sweet, fall head over heels for Estée Lauder Beautiful Belle, €59 (above) — a blend of mimosa, orange flower, gardenia and tuberose, specifically created for brides. From department stores and pharmacies nationwide. For those who love floral fragrances, Creed Love In White, €135, is a divine perfume scented like a bouquet of magnolia, narcissus and white hyacinth. From Arnotts, Harvey Nichols and Brown Thomas.
5/ Take my hand
Don’t overlook your hands and nails in your bridal beauty prep, as they’ll be a focal point on your wedding day. Remember to lash on your hand cream in the weeks before the wedding — that goes for grooms too! A global best-selling option is L’Occitane Rose Hand Cream, €18. A tube is sold every three seconds! From pharmacies and L’Occitane stores nationwide.
6/ Say eye do
Get your brows in tip-top shape in the run up to your wedding day with HD Brows, from €48. This is an especially good option for mothers of the bride or groom whose brows may have thinned with age. Available from salons across the country.
7/ Natural beauty
This gorgeous new eye-shadow palette will make your eyes picture-perfect on your wedding day with its warm, soft, neutral, wearable tones. MAC Boom Bloom Eye Shadow Palette x 9, €33.50, in ‘Kabuki Doll’, from MAC stores, Arnotts, Brown Thomas, BT2 and The Loop at Dublin airport.
8/ Happy glow
A bride needs her foundation to last all day, give great coverage but still look radiant and glowing — never caked. Try the new Laura Mercier Flawless Lumiére Radiance Perfecting Foundation, €49, from department stores nationwide. Other great bridal options to try are Huda Faux Filter Foundation, €36, and NARS Sheer Glow, €43, both from Brown Thomas.
9/ You may kiss the bride
A pinky coral lip is the go-to for many brides looking to nail their wedding make-up. MAC Boom Bloom Lipstick, €20, in ‘High Fructose’ is a non sticky, soft sheen semi-matte option in a really wearable tone. And it’s kiss-proof too! MAC Peach Blossom, €20, is another bridal favourite. From MAC stores, Arnotts, Brown Thomas, BT2 and The Loop at Dublin airport.
10/ Picture perfect
For a cute and photogenic touch to your day — as well as a way to keep that grotty old make-up bag far away from your dress — store your beauty goodies in this cute little bag. Monsoon I Do Pouch Bag, €55, from Monsoon stores and littlewoodsireland.ie.
[“source=independent”]