Liven up tired skin and hair in time for W-day with the help of beauty expert, Emily Berryman and her pick of the most gorgeous spring splurges…
Step 1: Give you skin a deep clean
A bride’s skin should be dewy, not drab, so now is the time to start exfoliating regularly to slough away the surface dead skin cells which can leave your complexion looking lacklustre come spring. We swear by skynICELAND Nordic Skin Peel, £38, marksandspencer.com – handy little pads packed with skin-smoothing lactic acid and papaya extract. They are far less faffy than using a traditional facial scrub.
Step 2: Spring clean your tools
Grubby brushes and beauty tools can harbour millions of yucky bacteria – which can lead to spots and breakouts if you don’t give them a good clean once in a while. We’ve been saving our pennies by switching fancy brush cleansers for good old Dr Bronner’s Magic Soap, £5.49, drbronner.co.uk. It works just as well without breaking the bank – and a little birdie tells us make-up guru Bobbi Brown swears by it.
Step 3: Shake up your make-up
Brides are often heavy-handed with their make-up in the hope that using more will make it last longer – but thick foundation can look decidedly drag queen for springtime nuptials! Instead, fight foundation fatigue by sticking to a light and natural base – but give it extra staying power by using a primer like Paul & Joe Moisturising Primer, £23, asos.com, first. Not only will this help your make-up to go on smoother, it will stop your foundation leaving the reception before you do.
Step 4: Detox your locks
You may love your sprays and serums, but shine-swiping product build-up is the number one reason why strands start to look sulky. Fast-track your way back to gorgeous gloss by using Fudge Professional Detox Deep Cleanse Shampoo, £9.95, fudge.com once a week to lift away any styling residue your usual shampoo can’t handle. We challenge you not to swish.
Step 5: De-fuzz winter layers
For brides who are too wussy for waxing, the new Braun Silk-épil 9, £149.99, boots.com is a must try! Great as you can use it wet or dry (which means it is far less ouchy than old school epilators), this whizzy little gizmo has a wider head to remove more hair in one swipe and leaves you feeling smooth and stubble-free for up to four weeks. Well, who has time for shaving when there are fittings to attend and hen do cocktails to sink?
Step 6: Nail the spring trends
Talons have taken a gorgeously girly turn this spring with edgy fashion shades ditched in favour of playful pastels perfect for your wedding day. Our favourites are found in the new Blossom collection from Nails Inc, £14 each, nailsinc.com. Four super-pretty confetti polishes that look great on their own or layered over a French polish – they make great little gifts for your bridesmaids too!
Step 7: Rethink your fragrance
Finally, brighter days call for a fabulous new floral fragrance, so we are smitten with Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh Sorbet Edition, £55.50, boots.com. A feminine blend of juicy mandarin and apple blossom with a sultry jasmine and magnolia heart, you’ll be nuzzling your wrists with every spritz.
