Your North West Wedding - August/September 2024 (Issue 87)

Q&A Beauty Local experts offer advice on how to look your big-day best CLASSIC ELEGANCE What’s a classic bridal look that I’ll love in my photos for years to come? The best place to start is to ask yourself some key questions to really pinpoint your niche. Essentially, decipher exactly what you don’t want first. Doing a one-size-fits-all look is not the way to go; what works for one person almost never works again for the next, and we need to celebrate our unique appearances! Personally speaking, I love to keep my wedding make-up looking true to the client. I want them to feel comfortable with themselves as well as empowered and confident. So, if you feel most like yourself when wearing false lashes and bronzy skin, that’s the direction you should go. Equally, if you never use make-up and only wear a smidge of mascara on special occasions, something minimal and more editorial would be perfect. To create a classic and timeless look, drawing attention to your eyes would be my number one piece of advice. Our eyes are distinctive and whether we just add a little eyeshadow to sculpt and define them or use intense shimmers and graphic liners, even the smallest touch can make our eyes sparkle. Use complementary colours to your eyes and a black or brown liner at the very base of your lashes to make them stand out. A pop of champagne or soft gold shimmer on the centre and inner corners of the eyelid can also look stunning in photographs. No matter how your preferences change throughout the years, if you keep your wedding make-up complementary to your features, it will look timeless and utterly gorgeous for years to come! Felicity Ashby www.ashbyartistry.co.uk BEAUTY QUEEN What are your top beauty tips to get me looking my best? Let’s talk about make-up first. The main, if not the most important, start to flawless make-up is gorgeous skin. A well-prepared skin regime should start weeks before the wedding day, even before your trial. It is crucial that the skin is hydrated, fresh, plump and as healthy as we can get it. Any special beauty treatments should be done at least two to three months in advance so that there is time to heal any breakouts or allergic reactions if they occur. Sleep and water are also amazing and if you can eat healthily, that would help too. Of course, preparing for a wedding can be stressful, but a little pampering and self-care will work wonders. When it comes to make-up itself, finding the right artist for you is crucial. We all have different styles and use different techniques; therefore, research and recommendations are very helpful so that you get your dream look. That is what trials are for, as you can try out cosmetics that your artist uses and see if they work for you and your skin. Always test the lashes to see if they are comfortable on your eyes and are not giving you any allergic reactions. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask the artist to use any of your favourite products, but do it at the trial so you can test how it works with the professional’s kit. Now, hair. It is sometimes forgotten in the wedding preparation routine, yet it’s so important. Well-taken-care-of, healthy locks make a difference to the styling on the big day. Using good products and regular trims are essential; however, if you are thinking of changing your look drastically (for example, a new hair colour or big chop), do it before the wedding trial to avoid any surprises on the wedding day, like the hair being too short for the style that you had chosen. Bring your accessories to the trial! It is so important that we know how to secure your hair clip, veil or headband to make sure it stays in place and, of course, that it matches the style that you’ve chosen. The best longevity test for both your hair and make-up is to have your trial done before a party, a night out or maybe a photo shoot a few weeks before your ceremony. You can then see if the whole look is exactly what you want, how well it lasts, if it needs any modifications and how it looks in photos! Evka Allen www.evka-allen.com www.carlawhittingham.co.uk 82

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