Treat Yourself To High-End Cosmetics For Your Wedding Make-Up

Very few women can afford to buy high-end skin care and cosmetics for their day-to-day routine, but we're talking about your wedding day! What better excuse to splurge and indulge yourself with some expensive goodies than the fact that you're getting married? If you're really clever, you can register for these luxuries for your shower gifts, or ask your future husband to treat you!


So, how do you know which skin care and cosmetic lines are right for you? Take yourself to the nearest posh department store where the cosmetic and fragrance department is a virtual wonderland of beauty and pampering! Experts at each counter are there to serve you and find the perfect products for your coloring and complexion. Each line usually has hundreds of samples and the salesperson will choose the right skin care for your needs. It's a good idea to take these home and use them to see how your skin reacts before committing to the big buy. Also, virtually every cosmetic line offers complimentary makeovers allowing you to pick and choose which products you love, and which you'd prefer to leave behind.
Once you've purchased your fabulous selections, bring them to your professional make-up artist when you go for your trial wedding make-up consultation. Not only will he or she give you a glimpse of how you'll look as a blushing bride, but will also offer tips for the proper
application of your new indulgences. Enjoy!

Watch us on 'Wedding Day Makeover'

We are so excited to announce that after long days of filming 'Wedding Day Makeover' is finally here! Now you can go behind the scenes with us to see how we transform brides and get them prepped for their big day! Please watch us work our magic on this new reality show every day on TLC at 2:30 PST (on HD) and 5:30 PST (regular)

About The Show
Wedding Day Makeover shows how naturally beautiful brides-to-be leap out of their everyday looks and into something extraordinary for their most special day. Each bride with their closest confidants and personal hair and make-up stylists will devise a plan to "wow!" the man of their dreams on their wedding day with a look that is beautiful, elegant, and exceptionally out of the ordinary.

Some brides have a look that they have dreamed of since they were children, some brides' family has an idea that they think is right for her, and others are looking for creative inspiration from the stylists, but they all put their thinking caps on to tackle the task of a lifetime.

With just a few sweeps of a blush brush and curling iron, these brides are able to see themselves in a different light and get the confidence to feel like the most beautiful woman in the room at their wedding.

Every bride has chaotic wedding-day events, and Wedding Day Makeover helps them to have one less stress, because with the stylist teams pre-wedding consultation, each bride knows what she will be transformed into on the big day.

Shimmer and Glow

Maybe you're not a shiny, sparkly person by nature. That's fine. But this is your wedding we're talking about! The one day of your life when you can, and should, use every trick in the book to look like the pretty princess you get to be for your nuptials. So why not treat your skin to a little shimmer and glow? We're not talking about encrusting yourself with glitter, but a little incandescence never hurt anyone. Not only that, you'll look radiant in the hundreds of photographs that will be taken of you as a bride.

What's the best way to achieve the look of luminosity? First, you need to make sure to keep your skin exfoliated and moisturized. This alone can make it appear more radiant. Next, you need to decide whether you want to have a fake tan or not. Not the kind that makes you look like you should be dangling from a citrus tree, but rather one that gives you that sun-kissed appearance. You can have this sprayed on at a salon or use a tanner purchased from the store. The most natural look can be achieved by using a product that builds color gradually over time. Also, bronzing powder can be lightly and strategically swept over your skin. Consult your make-up artist for his or her expertise on how and what to use to get your glow.

Now that your glow has been established, it's time for the shimmer! You can purchase luminescent lotions or powders to give you a subtle sheen. These come in a variety of colors, but it's best to choose one that closely matches your skin tone. Some are even scented for extra appeal. Apply this to any skin your wedding dress doesn't obscure, but don't overdo it! You don't want to end up transferring your shimmer to everyone and everything around you.

A little extra effort and you can be radiant on this most special occasion!

Lipstick With Staying Power

If there's any occasion when you should get your lipstick just right, it's on your wedding day. Not only should you have the perfect shade for your complexion and gown, but your lipstick needs to have staying power. Consult your professional make-up artist to choose the perfect shade when you go for your trial session. Make sure you carefully hold your dress up to your face once it's made up to be sure you're happy with the lipstick color against the fabric of your gown. Now that you've narrowed down the ideal shade, simply follow a few simple instructions for maintaining a perfect pout through a day full of having your picture taken, eating wedding cake, and of course, all that kissing you'll be doing with your new Mister!

Before you get your make-up done on the big day, gently exfoliate your lips with a mixture of olive oil and sugar. Rinse thoroughly. Your pro will line your lips and fill them in with a neutral liner, or one that closely matches your chosen lipstick shade. Next, your lipstick will be applied with a brush. Blot your lips on a tissue and have a second coat reapplied. If you wish, have some gold or transparent gloss applied over your lipstick. Place your clean finger in your mouth, close, and remove finger to eliminate any lipstick that may have otherwise ended up on your teeth. Voila! Those lips are going nowhere. Of course, it's still wise to keep your lipstick and a mirror at hand throughout the day for touch-ups. Smile!

Waxing Before the Wedding

Men are supposed to be hairy beasts. Women? Not so much! Unfortunately, women do have plenty of unwanted facial hair to contend with and waxing is a great way to remove it. However, it's wise to be strategic when scheduling your pre-wedding appointment to get waxed. Schedule it way before you get hitched and you'll be sprouting fuzz left and right as you walk down the aisle. Schedule it too close to your nuptuals, and you may have to deal with some rather unpleasant side effects. These side effects can be so brutal, they'll make you wish you kept your mustache!

There really is only one positive result of waxing...clean, hairless skin. The negative results can include bumps, bruising, skin removal, blemishes, unsightly ingrown hairs, redness, and swelling. It's crucial to gently exfoliate the skin the day before you get waxed and only allow wax to be applied to clean skin. For best results, have several waxing appointments long before your wedding date to see how your skin reacts to this method of facial hair removal. If your skin is too sensitive for waxing, there are plenty of other options, including bleaching and depilatories. These procedures can have their own bothersome side effects, so test out several methods of hair removal before settling on one that works for you.

Schedule Your Pre-Wedding Facial Wisely

Everyone loves and deserves some pampering, especially brides-to-be! Whether you treat yourself to a new haircut, a massage, or a mani/pedi, you'll (hopefully) leave your appointment looking and feeling like a million bucks. One service you might consider bypassing prior to tying the knot is a facial. Yes, a facial may feel wonderful while you're having it done, and yes, they're great for your skin in the long run, but they can also result in some unwanted side effects that can prove disastrous for a bride. So, what are these side effects and how can you avoid them if you really want to have a pre-wedding facial?

If your skin's not accustomed to the stimulation and deep-pore cleansing of a facial, your face can break out. Badly. This happens because during a facial, toxins and impurities are released and oil production in your skin is stimulated. The result can be a face full of unsightly blemishes. Not ideal for wedding photos! Another unpleasant outcome that can result is an allergic reaction to one or more of the products used during the facial. This is especially common for those with sensitive skin. A good esthetician will take every possible precaution to prevent either of these results from occurring. If you absolutely long to have a pre-wedding facial, do so at least two weeks prior to the big day.

The Perfect Smokey Eyes

If you haven't heard of the "smokey eye", you must be living under a rock! This timeless, sultry, dramatic look will turn heads and give you a boost of confidence when you rock it, especially on your wedding day. Despite the name, you do not have to use gray or black shadow and liner to achieve a smokey eye, though both colors do an outstanding job in achieving the look. You can use purples, browns, coppers, dark blues and greens, or even brighter colors. The sky's the limit, but be sure to maintain a certain level of taste so you don't end up looking tacky.

First, apply an eye shadow base from your lash line to your brow line. Use concealer under your eye to mask any dark circles. Use your chosen shade of liner as closely to the lash line as possible on both the top and bottom of your eyes and smudge. Next, use the darkest shade of your chosen eye shadow color and apply on entire upper lid and under lower lashes. Working upward from the darkest color on your lid, use a lighter shade of your chosen color and blend, blend, blend. In doing so, you'll achieve a gradient effect. Finish off with a few coats of mascara on your curled lashes. Voila! Instant glamour! Ask your professional make-up artist to try a couple variations of the smokey eye during your trial session to see if the look is right for your wedding day.

There is a Universal Blush Color

Did you know there's a universally flattering shade of blush? Is it possible that just one particular color can look great on any woman despite her skin tone? The answer is yes! So, what is this magical hue? Rosey pink. The reason this color can make any blushing bride beautiful is because, more than any other color, it mimics the natural glow your cheeks display when blushing due to embarrassment, or flattery, or being in love! But don't count on the natural flush you'll get on your face when you first spot your waiting groom; sweep some rosey pink blush across your cheeks for a pretty, finished look.

One big mistake many women are guilty of is buying a color of blush they think is pretty, regardless of how it'll look against their skin tone. Sure, sparkly peach is lovely, and who doesn't love a vibrant purple? But putting either of these shades on the wrong face is a faux pas. If you tend to reach for your favorite color of blush at the store, and then regret it once you see in on your face, play it safe and go for rosey pink. Maybe you hate pink as a color, but you don't hate looking gorgeous, right? Forget about your palette preference and be pretty in pink!

Moisturize!

The most important thing you can do for your skin is to keep it moisturized. This is especially crucial during the cooler months. The crisp air of autumn and winter can sap the skin of moisture, leaving it dry and flaky. Putting make-up on dry, flaky skin can be a recipe for disaster. Not only that, but dry skin looks older and shows every fine line and wrinkle. To be the stunning bride you always envisioned yourself to be, it's crucial to take excellent care of your skin.

Not all moisturizers are created equal. Finding a suitable skin cream depends a lot on the quality of the product itself, as well as your skin type. For oily skin, it's imperative to buy an oil-free product. If you're acne prone, a lotion containing salicylic acid is recommended. For sensitive skin, you may need to test drive several brands of moisturizer before you settle on one that doesn't irritate your complexion. Dry skin requires a product with extra emollients. A visit to the dermatologist may be in order if you're unable to sort your skin issues out on your own. Don't wait until right before you get married if you're having concerns. Of course you'll be glowing from the inside out on your wedding day, but it can't hurt to have beautiful, moisturized skin as well!