Top make-up and beauty tips for the week before your wedding from the talented Clare Hogan Make-Up Artist. This week pre wedding beauty treatments. Thanks Clare over to you..

Hello brides-to-be.. its the week before your big day and you’re probably finalising the last bits and pieces that need to be done. This week can be hectic, so plan it well if you can, especially when it comes to your beauty treatments.

My biggest tip for the week before your  wedding is DON’T leave your treatments such as facials, tans or waxing until the day before your wedding, especially if you haven’t had them before. The last thing you want is to have a reaction or tan disaster which then has to be treated or fixed on the day!

Facial:
If you’re having a facial, have it a week before to allow for any breakouts. A week should be enough time for your skin to settle if it does break out and if you do get that dreaded spot the night before DO NOT SQUEEZE unless it’s ready to be. You can end up doing more harm than good and concealer is the best way to cover it up.

Tan:
If you’re having your tan done then I would give it a couple of days so the colour settles and will allow for any fixing if you’re not happy with it. You don’t want to be trying to scrub off a tan that’s too dark on your big morning.

Eye Brows:
If you’re going to have your eye brows shaped do this a couple of days before and if you have one or two stray hairs you can pluck these the night before but try to avoid any major plucking on the day itself as it can cause redness and irritation.
I mentioned it in one of my earlier in my pieces and it’s especially true in the immediate run up to the day, drink plenty of water. It will hydrate your skin, help flush toxins and generally help you feel better on the day. It will also help reduce puffiness and dark circles under the eye’s.

Make-Up:
If your make-up artist has suggested some products for you to have on the day for touching up such as lipstick or powder then have these bought and ready for the morning.

Beauty Sleep:
Lastly, and very important, try to get as many early nights as possible. This can be easier said than done with everything that’s going on but I would try to get at least 1 or 2 early nights especially the night before. Your big morning can be chaotic and you need to be able to cope with anything the day throws at you so if you’re tired and stressed you’re more likely to worry over small things and not enjoy the day as much.

If you are starting to think about your wedding make-up you can contact me at www.clarehogan.ie or pop over to my facebook for lots more wedding make-up and beauty tips.

More bridal beauty tips for a beauty regime from engagement to wedding from Clare Hogan Make-Up artist. Over to you Clare..

So we’ve addressed your skin care routine and nutrition and you should be seeing an improvement in your skins condition. However there are a few other beauty factors to think about in the months running up to your wedding too .

Facials
Something I would suggest, is going for a couple of facials. Apart from being great for pampering the skin, planning a wedding can be stressful and this can show on your skin so taking time out to relax will do you the world of good. If you’ve never had a facial then you could end up with a slight break out or on the rare occasion a reaction to one of the products so be sure to have it in plenty of time before your wedding. I would book in maybe 3 or 4 months before and if all goes well and you’re happy then maybe book in for another one the week or two before your wedding. It will just give your skin that extra bit of TLC.

Eyebrows
Next, and one of my favourite topics, eyebrows! If you have them shaped regularly then you probably have a routine that you either keep yourself by plucking or else you go to a beautician to have them done. However for some women this is a scary subject. I’m a huge believer that well shaped brows can transform a face so if you’re lucky to have naturally groomed looking brows then you’re sorted. However most women need a little help. You don’t need to go wild but even just tidying up a few stray hairs can make a big difference. If you’ve never had them done before I wouldn’t try doing it yourself as there is a real danger of over plucking. So I would make an appointment with a trained professional as they will be able to shape them to suit your face. Then, you can either maintain them yourself or return to them for upkeep. In contrast, if you’re guilty of overplucking and want to go for a fuller brow then you can start letting them grow now and then have them shaped. It can feel horrible letting them grow and can be very tempting to pluck but try and resist. It’ll be worth it in the end!

Tan
If, like a lot or Irish women, you dread the thoughts of looking pale on your wedding day and you’re having your tan done then you need to think about having a trial! If you’ve never had a tan before then you should definitely have it done a few months before the big day. There are lots of little things you need to remember after you’ve had it done. Don’t wear a bra or tight clothing that might rub it and cause white, patchy marks or make sure you don’t do any activities where you might sweat as this will also cause the tan to rub off. However, the biggest thing you need to get right is the final colour. If you are naturally pale and don’t usually wear tan then I would keep it light with just a hint of colour to give you a nice glow. If you’re used to wearing tan and like to go dark then it’s all about what you’re comfortable wearing just keep in mind, it’s all about looking natural and to be honest, pale is in ladies. Just look at the magazines and models, women are embracing their peaches and cream complexion. If like me, the thoughts of turning orange horrifies you but lets admit, we do all feel better with a little colour, then I’ve found just the thing… Dove Summer Glow moisturiser which has a hint of tan. It builds up over a few days and you stop when you think the colour is just right. I found it went on really nicely, left my skin gorgeous and soft and is perfect for giving you a natural glow and lets face it, it’s a lot less work too!

Images courtesy of Clare Hogan and Elizabeth Arden

Dry Patches
Lastly, if you have any very dry area’s of skin, for example elbows or around the nose if you’ve had a cold, then I would suggest using something like Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream on the area to really soften it. After a few weeks you should see a big difference. I find it’s really great on the lips, especially if you’re going to be wearing a strong lipstick on your big day. You want your lips in tip top condition so that the product will go on perfectly and last. There’s nothing worse than dry, flaky lips to ruin your look! Some people don’t like the smell of the 8 Hour (it is a little clinical) but personally I love it and I never leave the house without my mine

Thanks to make-up artist Clare Hogan for her great tips as always!!! Keep posted for her next blog…