Wedding Beauty Tips

Kate Aspen, designer of fabulous wedding favors and bridesmaids gifts, welcomes some wedding skin care advice from Sarah Logan on behalf of ASI.

 

You want that wedding album to remain as fresh and beautiful as the day itself . Of course you’re going to fret about looking your best! Sarah Logan, on behalf of ASI, provides some good tips for bridal beauty care as you prepare for your perfect wedding.

By the way – this gorgeous bride appears courtesy of Artage Pictures, Toronto-based photographers who do awesome work! And a special thanks to the lovely Holly, for her permission, too!

Plan for a Flawless Face in Wedding Photos

Wedding pictures hold some of the happiest memories of a lifetime, so be sure you consider all the angles when preparing to be photographed on the big day.

In the weeks and months leading up to the wedding…

Plan your procedures aheadit’s easy to get caught up in the craziness of tastings, fittings and appointments and forget to schedule facial treatments until the last minute. Don’t be tempted to get microdermabrasion or chemical peels within at least a month of the event, depending on the exact type of laser or peel. Laser resurfacing “heals within days and normal color returns within a few weeks- if that long” according to Dr. Edward Lack (Chicago Rhinoplasty).

Even a simple facial shouldn’t be considered in the last few days leading up. Call well ahead of time and discuss.

Practice good skin healthstay hydrated and eat healthfully leading up to the event. Don’t try new skincare products, or anything that may irritate your skin. Anticipate your skin’s history, and treat it accordingly depending on changes your skin may experience in the climate or weather that’s expected at the venue.

For the big day…

Start with a good base– be sure that your foundation is the right color and formulation for your skin. You may feel like you should use a heavy cream or stick foundation since you’re being photographed, but heavier formulas will look caked on and are more likely leave a line of demarcation around the neck and hairline that’s tougher to blend away. Just stick with the liquid or powder that works for you, and be sure it’s properly matched to your color. No one wants to look washed out, but it can also age you a bit if your base is too dark for you.

Color correcting concealers, like green or yellow for redness, and peach or yellow for under-eye circles are a much better choice than simply layering on more makeup. Remember that redness will be easily picked up in photographs so take care to balance that out, and stay away from more pink based foundations.

Avoid the shiny lookglitter will reflect too much on camera, and shouldn’t be worn to a nice event like a wedding anyway. Radiance-enhancing or shimmery foundations make faces look too slick and shiny for photos, so if you must, only keep the sheen on cheekbones and the cupid’s bow for highlighting purposes. Always finish the t-zone with powder, which is especially important to balance any highlighting applied. If you know you’re more oily, pop pressed powder in your bag so that you stay shine free.

The eyes have it– keep in mind that darker eye shadows and heavy liner make eyes look smaller. A matte or pearl shadow formula will be universally flattering and especially in warm, earthy tones. To keep eyes looking big and bright, highlight the inner corners and brow bone with an off-white, light pink or pale gold shadow or crayon. The older you are, the more important it is to stay fast to the no shimmer rule, as it tends to bring attention to fine lines. Black eyeliner can also look too harsh for older women (same goes for liquid liner) and fair blondes are more suited for eyeliner and mascara in the brown tones.

Don’t forget to make sure brows are properly framing the face- everyone looks better and younger with defined brows. Fill the arches with powder or if using a pencil, blend with a brush. Brow color and size are important considerations here, so don’t forget to use a light hand and blend.

Consider your venue and lightingdo take the time to stop and think about if the event/ photos will be taking place indoors or out, and at what time of day. Indoor photos will be taken with flash, so it’s important to use powder to combat shine and to also be sure foundation is matched well. If outdoors, soften makeup a bit as it can easily look too heavy or harsh. Also adjust your makeup look for more formal locations, and later times in the evening. When considering these factors, you will want to use more color and definition over simply adding more makeup.

Keeping these ideas in mind, remember its always most important to look like yourself and feel comfortable on your wedding day. These techniques will help ensure you look flawless both in person and in photographs for years to come.

Good suggestions, Sarah! And if you’re looking for some spa time for your BFF’s before the wedding day, here are some really cute ideas for spa-themed gifts for bridesmaids!

Happy Planning!

Sarah Logan provided the content for this post on behalf of ASI, offering skin care classes in New York. Kate Aspen is pleased to provide you with Sarah’s helpful tips for pre-wedding skin care, but this post does not mean we endorse the services of this particular company or any other professionals mentioned in this article. Please do your own research prior to engaging the services of any skin care professional – especially before your wedding day.