Your bridal make-up trial guide

Everything you need to about preparing for a bridal trial with us.

Thank you, by the way! I’m so pleased that you’ve chosen us as your makeup artist for your wedding. It’s an incredible honour, and a massive responsibility. You are going to look incredible.

Okay, let’s get stuck in …

Create a mood board – Whether it’s a physical mood board you’ve created with images from magazines stuck to a piece of card, or a selection of things you like on Pinterest, it’s soooo helpful for us to see what you like and what you don’t. So, this is an amazing start and a great way for you to get the most from your trial. Just keep in mind, that photos of hair and makeup on Pinterest are usually heavily airbrushed and filtered. So, while we’re very experienced at what we do, one needs to be realistic! And also, our face shapes, tones and textures are all so different that it’s impossible to create a carbon copy of the look you want to achieve. But trust me, we’ll get as close as I can, and you’ll still look like you. Promise.

Prepare your skin – Try to get your skin in great shape for your bridal trial. Your makeup will look it’s best on clean and hydrated skin. So, lots of pampering –cleansing, moisturising, special skin treats and loads of water please.

Bring your make up bag – We need to get a feel of your every day look, and see the foundations and lipsticks you love. You’ll have a beautiful blank canvas for me to work on for the day of your makeup trial, but part of our time together is getting to know you and what makes you tick.

Wear white – Wearing white reflects the light back onto the face, so even if you don’t intend to wear a white wedding dress, a white top will make your makeup look it’s best. You could bring along a scarf or a piece of fabric in the colour of your dress if you’re able to. And if you are wearing white on your wedding day, by coming to your trial in a white top, we can ensure we get the tone of your skin just right. Also, please wear something comfortable. We’ll be sat together chatting for a couple of hours. We want you to relax and enjoy it. We’re your very own glam squad for the day!

Bring hair pieces and your veil – We need to get a feel of your overall look on the day. And with this in mind, an image of your dress will be really helpful too. And bring a friend – if you’re somebody who likes to get others take on things, you’re more than welcome to have somebody with you to offer their thoughts and opinions. But keep in mind, while feedback is great – too much can be just as unhelpful as none. Your hair and make up are such personal choices and what others may consider ‘natural’ or ‘bold’ may not be what you feel. So, if you’ve got a strong idea about the look you want to achieve, then come along solo. Just do what feels right for you.

And the only thing that’s left to say is enjoy it! We always do. We want you to feel comfortable and relaxed and be able to tell us all about yourself and things you like and don’t like. We’ll advise you on the products and techniques we use, ways to keep your make up looking fresh during your wedding day and share my ideas. But the aim of the bridal trial is to achieve a look which YOU love, so you can look the best you ever have and feel gorgeous and confident walking down the aisle. It’s your wedding day and your moment. And we are so pleased to be sharing it with you.

Non-invasive beauty treatments for brides

I always say, be natural, be yourself. And with this blog, I’m not going to tell you to run off to the nearest surgeon with a wodge of cash and an overnight bag. But there are a few beauty treatments available which are really effective and safe and will help you look and feel your best on your wedding day.

My only advice would be, trial these treatments well in advance. I’m talking weeks, possibly months, so you can get used to the results and rule out any possible reactions.

Okay, lets go …

Dermaplaning

Dermaplaning is deep exfoliation treatment that removes dead skin cells and those fuzzy hairs on your face. So …shaving your face …with a surgical scalpel! Sounds weird, but it’s totally safe and when you see the results you’ll be amazed. Say goodbye to fine lines, dullness and spots and hello to baby soft, fuzz-free skin which glows. Give this one a test well in advance and please avoid it if you have highly sensitive skin or acne. If that’s you, fear not and read on!

Specialist facials

You don’t have to choose from a list of fixed facial treatments, especially if you have sensitive skin which needs special care. Find an amazing beauty therapist, tell them all of your concerns and let them tailor a facial for you. Have a few sessions before the big day. That way, they can target your problem areas over the weeks or months before your wedding. I know what it’s like to have skin issues. It’s the reason I became a makeup artist, and I cannot recommend a regular facial highly enough.

Microblading

If you’re not blessed with a beautiful brow with a killer arch, and your fed up of pencilling – microblading will rock your world. Unlike tattooing, which is essentially adding a block of colour, fine incisions are made to the top layer of your skin and then pigment is added to create the illusion of real hairs. It’s a semi-permanent treatment which has been around for thousands of years, and it’s totally safe. On your wedding day, when you’re hot and distracted, knowing your brows are on fleek will be one less thing to worry about.

Dermarolling

It’s sometimes called microneedling or dermastamping, and it’s a procedure which uses tiny needles to stimulate collagen and elastin. Dermarolling is great for treating fine lines, pores, acne scars and promoting plumper and more radiant skin. Give it a Google and you’ll see lots of home kits available. But dermarolling performed in clinics is a totally different thing altogether. See a professional if you’re thinking of trying this for the first time.

High gloss hair

Don’t neglect your locks. Treat your hair to a glossing treatment for shine, richness, vibrancy and volume. Here’s the science bit! A traditional hair dye opens up the hair shaft, removes natural hair pigments and stains the hair with a new colour. But glosses work in a different way in that it doesn’t open up the hair shaft at all. It closes the hair up super tight giving it a smoother, silkier texture which reflects the light. Tad dah! Again, there are products you can use at home but certainly for your first try, treat yourself to a trip to a really good salon.

I’m not a beauty treatment expert. Make up is my love. So, please please do your research, ask your friends for recommendations and trial any of these treatments well in advance of your wedding day.

I’d love to hear about your beauty treatment experiences. What salon treatments do you swear by? Which would you avoid? And if your wedding is fast approaching, which beauty treatment would you love to try?

Natasha xo

The one thing brides forget …and really shouldn’t

The sound of church bells, grabbing the bouquet with gusto, straining your neck to get your first glimpse at the bride and the taste of champagne. Weddings stimulate all of the senses. But what about smell?!

I know, right? I mean, you could stick to your everyday scent. That’s you. It’s comfortable. You trust it. Or, you could choose yourself a new wedding perfume – unique to your big day and completely in fitting with the look and feel of your wedding.

You can still capture familiar scents – something to calm your jitters. Don’t choose something really heady just for the sake of it. But over time, a whiff of your wedding perfume will transport you back to all of the emotions you were feeling and all of the fabulous memories. So, it’s a nice idea to choose something new for a finishing touch to your wedding look, which is also something really emotive.

Most brides will choose a floral scent for their wedding day, but if that’s not your thing – I’ve got some other ideas for you to try. Plus, some other perfume tips!

1. Dom Rosa - It. Smells. Of. Champagne. Nuff said!

2. Dior J’Adore – Classily feminine, romantic and flowery.

3. Charlotte Tilbury Scent of a Dream – The designer says it will bring love, light, power, positivity and sex. Well worth investing for your ‘something new’ I’d say.

4. Le Labo Santal 33 – It’s unisex but leans more towards a masculine scent. Perfect for the non-girly bride, or groom.

5. Escentric Molecules – Chemistry meet perfumery. A clever pair of perfumes that react to your own natural pheromones. Bit bonkers but really popular and smells lush.

6. Chanel No.5 – No introduction needed.

7. Jo Malone Peony and Blush Suede – Or anything by our Jo really. A really popular choice with brides. Jo Malone in Cheltenham offer a free bridal experience if you’re passing.

“Perfume is the most intense form of memory.”

That should be enough to get your nose twitching with excitement. But before you invest in a pricey bottle of gorgeousness, take a look at my 5 top tips for wedding-worthy perfume:

1. Test in store and wear for the whole day – that way you can live with it for a bit to help you make your mind up, and also check for any reaction to your skin.

2. Give it a chance – When you spray and sniff, it’s just the alcohol you’re smelling, with a few of the top notes. Spray on a blotter and allow a few minutes.

3. EDT is the only way - For long-lasting fragrance (because topping up won’t even enter your head once the day begins) choose an eau de toilette (EDT).

4. Moisturise – The oils within your perfume will cling to it and boost its staying power. Even better, pair up with the matching body cream.

5. Ask your friends – Your nose will desensitise and get used to your new perfume over time, so ask for a friend’s opinion. But remember, your perfume choice is completely personal to you.

Apologies for giving you another thing to add to your to do list! But it’s something many brides tell me was such an important part of their wedding day, and they were so glad they included it within their look.

Enjoy testing out your wedding perfume. Take some time out from the chaos of wedding planning and do something nice for yourself. And don’t forget to ask your groom-to-be to give you a little neck nuzzle for his own personal seal of approval!