A Guide to Your Bridal Beauty: Everything You Need to Know to Look and Feel Your Best for the Big Day

As we approach bridal season this year, it may be easy to forget the smaller steps one should take to look and feel their absolute best for their big day. As a bridal makeup artist, I am here to help you prioritize the smaller parts of your beauty routine that can often be overlooked in the midst of planning a wedding.

Booking Your Hair and makeup:

The first step is a no-brainer, booking all your appointments far enough in advance so you don’t end up scrambling a month before you walk down the aisle. Start with your hair and makeup team first considering this is the time of year when bridal hair and makeup artists are the most booked, it is crucial you get your wedding date to your company of choice as soon as possible. Julie Occhino Luxury Beauty, located in the heart of Greenwich, Connecticut, can assist you with all of your hair and makeup needs and will put you at ease with their amazing and talented team. Don’t even know where to start? Don’t worry, owner and lead artist Julie Occhino will organize a Pinterest appointment with you to help you create a board full of ideas and inspiration.

Once you have decided on a few looks, it is time to book your hair and makeup trial so you can get a chance to experience the process of getting glammed-up but also so you can visualize what you will look like the day of! Trials are of utmost importance when booking your hair and makeup team because the last thing you want to deal with is hating how your hair and makeup look moment before you say “I do”.

Building a customized skincare routine:

This is the time to treat yourself and give your skin the pampering it needs. I highly suggest booking facials regularly at least six months in advance of your wedding. This way your skin will be polished and looking its absolute best the day of and it will help your makeup look even more flawless. The key to a flawless makeup look is proper skincare. Desiree Delia, licensed esthetician, and skin expert says “In addition to getting regular facials (once a month) you really want to be putting in the work with your home care. When it comes to the skin and getting that glow consistency is key!… what you want to be focusing on is treating your skin with the products that are right for your skin type and this is something your esthetician can help you identify”.

That being said, you need to be taking care of your skin at home too, or else all the work and money you have put into getting facials will just go right out the window! Obviously, different skin types and concerns require different products to specifically cater to you but I suggest you start with what I call “The Basic Eight”. The Basic Eight is the eight basic steps you should be taking in your skincare routine in order to achieve a smooth complexion. I know eight steps may seem like a lot but I promise you, if you put in the time and effort you will see results and your skin will thank you!

The Basic Eight:

Cleansing Oil or Balm
Face Wash
Exfoliant
Toner
Serum
Eye Cream
Moisturizer
SPF

Taming, tweezing, and Tinting those brows:

The eyebrows may be thick, thin, dark, or light but regardless, your eyebrows are the focal point of the face so let’s get them under control. First things first, find a brow specialist that you trust. Nothing is worse than getting your brows done and the next thing you know your eyebrows look like Pamela Anderson’s circa 1997. If you need some help growing your brows out I highly suggest using Grande Brow brow growth serum. You apply it twice a day, one in the morning and once at night, and will start to see results in as little as two weeks.

For all of my light-brow brides who want a little more color to accentuate their brows, tinting is the way to go. It is basically just dying your brow hairs so they are more prominent. Tammy Fisher, owner of Browtiste here in NYC is your go-to girl if you want your brows to be in the best shape. She specializes in shaping and tinting in order to achieve the best brows to frame your face.

Don’t lash out:

Lash extensions are the new trend that has taken the beauty industry by storm within the past few years. Whether you like the natural and wispy or full and fluffy, lash extensions are definitely the way to go. Lash artist Christina Angelicola owner of Oh My Lash CT says “ lash extensions are an effortless way to enhance your desired wedding look, whether that be more natural or full glam. Eyelash extensions are easy to customize to fit your individual style and preference”

Another huge reason why lash extensions are the better option for your big day is for those brides who know they are going to be extremely emotional, there are only so many tears eyelash glue and a strip lash can take!

Keeping up with your hairstylist:

As tempting as it may seem, do not and I repeat DO NOT try a new hairstyle or color too soon before your wedding. If you want to experiment with a new cut or color, start at least a year in advance that way if you hate it you have time for your hair to grow out or fix the color. If you are totally dead set on the idea of trying something new, talk to your hairstylist and see what they can suggest that will work best with your own personal style.

Set up a few appointments every 4-6 weeks with your stylist of choice to keep up with things like trims, roots, and conditioning treatments so your hair is healthy and shiny. Doing this will also help the person who is styling your hair on the day of your wedding achieve the look you had in mind.

NAILED IT!:

Pinterest will be your best friend when it comes to picking out a nail look that you like. Do you want to match your bridesmaid dresses? How about a classic french manicure? Your hands will be in more photos than you think so chose wisely! Some beautiful nail trends I have been seeing include ombrè french, nude coffin-shaped nails, pastel french tips, and my personal favorite, abstract rhinestones.

Don’t forget about the toes! Regardless if you are wearing open-toed shoes or not, treat yourself to a pedicure. You’re getting married, might as well go all out… and yes, you should get the callus remover to add on. I would say do your nails as close to the event as possible this way you can avoid any chips or broken nails. Typically I suggest getting them done the day before if possible.

I hope that these tips help even the busiest of brides. The beauty routine is such a complex part of wedding planning and can often be overwhelming so I hope this helps you find a place to start!

Which of these do you prioritize for your big day? Leave us a comment below!