We are excited to announce that we were interviewed for The Knot's Beauty Week coming up February 15th - 21st! They asked for our Top 10 Beauty Mistakes to Avoid Surrounding Your Wedding Day.
As a special preview, we thought we would share our Top 10 with you:
1. Make sure that you schedule your trial run through at the right time for you. There is no right or wrong time to schedule a trial run. If you are incorporating your mother's veil or a specific headpiece into your hairstyle, make sure you have it for your trial run through as the hairstyle needs to be worked around it. If you are growing your hair out, make sure you wait until it is long enough or else the trial will be a waste of time and money. But make sure that you schedule your trial run through well in advance so you can schedule out haircuts, color/highlights, etc. up to your wedding day. This way there's no last-minute panic that your stylist is on vacation so you have to get in with someone else resulting in your hair being cut too short for your style, with too many layers, and the wrong color.
2. Don't be afraid to speak up. Your trial run through is not the time to pull the "Yes, it's fine" card that we've all pulled at a salon or makeup counter, got up and left, and then drove home in tears. If you don't like it, tell the artist/stylist what you do like about it (if anything), and what you want to change. It's okay if you change your mind about liking the style/look once you see it on you versus when you saw it in the picture. Just make sure you have some ideas of other things you want to try or suggestions/pictures of other types of styles you like. This will give your artist/stylist something to start with.
3. Don't become frustrated or overwhelmed with the multitude of choices for your makeup. Contact your wedding planner, venue, friends/family or bridal associations in your area to get referrals for professional makeup artists with a good reputation. Having someone else to take care of doing your makeup (and not having to purchase it all yourself) will often times lighten your to-do list before and on your wedding day. Remember that though they may be the professional, this is your wedding—not theirs. And if the artist doesn't listen or try what you would like, look for another artist—there are wonderful makeup artists out there who can make you feel and look your best.
4. If you are going to do your own makeup, make sure you choose your type of foundation based on the type of coverage you want. If you have troubled skin, a lot of discoloration or acne, you may want to choose a full coverage foundation. Many full coverage foundations now come more in lightweight formulas than in the past so the makeup won't feel as heavy on the skin. Always make sure you try out the foundation first and wear it throughout the day before purchasing it so you can experience the wear of the foundation on your skin and the color in different types of light (outdoor/natural light, florescent, dim/candlelight, etc.). If you feel like it is too heavy feeling on your skin though, try a different lighter coverage foundation. There is bound to be one that is just right for you.
5. Don't wear a skin luminizer or shimmer all over your face as it will reflect the light of the flash and make your skin look a lot lighter than the rest of your body. If you want to wear some shimmer on the brow bone or a little on the cheekbone to highlight, go ahead and do so as it generally gives a bit of glow to the skin.
6. Be aware if your foundation or moisturizer has SPF in it as it can reflect the light from a flash and make your face look like it doesn't match the rest of your body. Also be aware of your face powder if talc is a main ingredient as it will also make your face look mask-like in photos. Yellow-based powders are usually best as they tone down redness and also look natural in pictures.
7. Try to get enough rest the night before your wedding as well as the week of your wedding if possible. You will most likely have a lot of other last-minute details to finish, however the more rest you get, the less stressed you will be, which will in turn reduce the chance of stress-related breakouts on your wedding day and also hopefully help you deal with family and friend personalities with greater ease. Emotions run high surrounding a wedding and you don't want to be upset and crying as the artist is trying to apply your makeup because everyone has you on your last nerve.
8. Exercise and healthy eating go hand-in-hand with your wedding day beauty routine. Remember that your skin is an organ and shows signs of stress. Exercise will also help with your stress reduction, make you feel better overall and even look better in your dress. Reducing or eliminating smoking, alcohol, and foods with high sugar and fat contents will change the luminosity of your skin. Remember that makeup can only do so much and that it does sit on top of your skin—it is not a real mask.
9. If you are on the fence about what style or look to choose, take pictures. If possible, try to take them in natural light versus inside with a flash as it will make the picture look differently than how you look in real life. Take pictures from the front, sides, and back and then write down on a piece of paper what you think about it when you look in the mirror. Then go on to style #2 and do the same thing. Your artist/stylist shouldn't make you decide on the spot what style you want for your wedding day hairstyle or makeup look (unless it is your wedding day that day). Let the decision marinate a bit, look back at the pictures and at your notes. If there is someone who helps you make good decisions, make sure they are there at your trial run through to give you honest feedback. Pictures are great but there is nothing like seeing it in person.
10. Don't leave booking your artist/stylist until the last-minute. Finding out that you've waited too long to book the artist/stylist you wanted for your wedding day can leave you in a panic. Generally you want to book between 1 year to 6 months in advance to make sure that you not only have someone for your wedding day but also so that if you have your trial run through and decide that artist/stylist is not for you, then you have enough time to search for another one. Regardless of when you book your artist/stylist, you want to get a contract—your vendor for hair and makeup should be no different than your vendor for your flowers, caterer, venue, etc.
