Rufus R. Noble It’s not easy to find the perfect makeup artist for your wedding. After endless Google searches and Instagram stalking sessions, you have finally found your perfect artist to bring your wedding beauty dreams into reality. A proper skincare routine is essential for expert makeup application.
These tips and tricks are for you, whether you have been doing regular facials for the six months before your wedding or you are a low-maintenance bride who only does a few skincare steps. They discuss preparing your skin for bridal makeup to ensure that your makeup lasts from the ceremony through the reception.
How to look your best on your wedding day
Simon advises that you prepare your skin for the big day at least one month in advance. Simon doesn’t recommend that you do your entire wedding day regimen every day for a month. However, Simon says it is unnecessary to incorporate new products into your daily routine on your wedding day.
Rosengrant agrees with this sentiment. She also mentions that she will often ask clients at their makeup trials about their skincare routines. Establishing that information as soon as possible is important so that your makeup prep at the trial is the same as what you will use on the wedding day.
After you have compiled your skincare products and discovered products that you love and your skin responds to, your wedding day prep skincare routine should look something like this:
Step 1: Cleanse
It’s easy to start your morning skincare routine by using a cleanser. But on your wedding day, Simon suggests that the cleanse step should be focused on hydration, or as she puts it, making sure the skin is “plump, glowy.”
Step Two: Serum
A serum is next. Simon recommends using hydrating serums. He says, “something water-based, and preferably something that contains hyaluronic acids.” Hydration is important for any occasion, but especially on your wedding day. Dehydration can cause fine lines, wrinkles, and makeup that doesn’t fit well on the skin. Even for those with “oily” skin, it is important to use water-based hydrating products during this step. Simon states that “it is possible to have oily skin and still have surface dehydration (i.e. Lack of water. Oily skin could be caused by your skin producing more oil when it is dehydrated.
Rosengrant encourages clients to do this and will personally apply a moisturizer or hyaluronic acid before applying makeup. Rosengrant warns that even makeup can dry out if it isn’t properly moisturized.
Step Three: Moisturize
Use a moisturizer to lock in the benefits of the serum. Simon recommends a lighter moisturizer for “daytime”, as “you don’t want to apply [on] any super heavy makeup before you start applying it.”
Step 4: SPF
No matter what you do, SPF is essential. Protect your skin, no matter if you’re at a nighttime wedding or indoors. Simon recommends that you choose a chemical-based SPF over a mineral-based one if you are concerned about SPF causing a white cast or “bounce back” effect in your photos. Chemical-based SPFs typically contain as many as six chemicals–oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, and homosalate–. In contrast, mineral-based SPFs typically contain only zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, but usually both.
Step Five: Primer
Primer is the final step in your pre-makeup routine. You should always consult your makeup artist before applying primer. Some experts prefer to do this themselves. Rosengrant can apply primers to different skin types. For example, a primer that hydrates dry skin will be applied. Or a mattifying primer or anti-shine for oily skin.
What to do on the morning of your wedding?
Both Simon and Rosengrant stressed that exfoliating on the wedding day is a huge no-no. Simon recommends that you exfoliate at least two days before your wedding. The esthetician warns against using self-tanner or sunless products on your wedding day. If your skin reacts to any of the products, you should not use them on the day of the wedding.
Airbrush Makeup Tips
Airbrush makeup has been a big hit in the wedding beauty industry, but it does require a different skincare routine to deal with one problem: facial hair. When the face is naturally adorned with peach fuzz, airbrush makeup sticks to it best. This does not include dermaplaning. Dermaplaning, a niche procedure, exfoliates your skin and removes vellus hairs, also known as “peach fuzz”. A professional facialist can do dermaplaning.
Rosengrant recommends dermaplane at least 72 hours before your wedding if you don’t plan on using airbrush makeup. This is a great way to get a smoother look, and it can be even more flawless than traditional makeup.
