Prepping for your wedding makeup trial…

I’ve been chatting Wedding Makeup Artist Rosie from RAW Makeup about how to get your skin looking incredible ahead of the big day, and what you need to do to prepare for your makeup trial. 

I’ve learnt A LOT so I’m sure you’re going to love this! 

RAW Makeup Artist, Mark Horton Photography

Hey Rosie, good to chat to you today. Tell our brides a bit about you, and what you do: 

I am so excited to share some tips and tricks for brides to be!  

I specialise in naturally fresh, glowing skin, I don’t believe your makeup needs to be heavy just because you want your wedding photos to look good! I’m a lover of creating looks that celebrate the best version on you. 

I love keeping the skin naturally fresh & glowing by layering several tones, it just looks more natural! Glowing cream bases & liquid blushers & bronzers help give the ultimate radiant, youthful glow.  

My favourite style of makeup, luminous & polished skin with enhanced natural lashes and smudged (worked into lash line) feline liner.  

Let’s pretend I’m a bride stressing about how to make my skin great for the big day, where do I  begin?

The best results are produced when you have a holistic approach, combining a variety of techniques to target the overall health and quality of the skin.  Remember everyone is unique and so is your skin. 

Start levelling up your skincare routine 6-12 months before your wedding to allow your skin to glow from within, looking flawless and smooth for that no makeup, makeup look.  

Having facials leading up to the event is also a great way to intensify your results. I am a huge fan of Hydra- facials (slightly obsessed some may say). Be sure to see how your skin reacts to active facials, work out when you are most happy with the texture of your skin as you can get breakouts, or your skin might react, you can then work your way back from your wedding date.  

If you plan on trying new skincare products too, swap one at a time so you can identify which product is causing any potential breakouts or reactions. This also helps to prevent your skin from being overwhelmed and irritated.  

Safe option, reduce caffeine and increase water intake. Reducing alcohol and sugar will help reduce puffiness, breakouts and inflammation. Rosacea skin types for example can be triggered from alcohol, it’s also very drying on all skin types too!  

Well-known ingredients in active facials such as glycolic acid and a popular ingredient tretinoin can cause rosacea flair ups, in a nutshell not all treatments/ skincare works for all. 

Many people don’t know that dehydrated skin can often cause your skin to produce more (low quality) oil and increase breakouts, so it’s worth finding out more about your skin type, I suggest booking in with a skin specialist to ensure you are using the correct products, often we are causing an imbalance in our skin barrier without even knowing it. 

Wow, I did not know that!  *Drinks more water*

Skin supplements are great if you want to feed your skin from within, I personally use an Advanced Nutrition programme. Your gut health also plays a big part in having healthy skin. Do be cautious though as many hair and skin supplements often contain B12 and biotin which is known to cause breakouts and acne prone skin. 

When should I have my makeup trial?

Ideally 2-6 months before the wedding, in a similar season to match skin tone for that time of year. If you plan to have a spray tan for the big day, make sure do this ahead of the trial too. If you are having brow waxing too, ensure you trial this out as you can sometimes react and make your skin base not sit as well.

Trial day! Do I come makeup free? 

Yes, come makeup free. If you can come wearing a similar shade top and neckline to your dress this is really helpful. Also feel free to bring any accessories to help you envision your final look.  

Ensure you have sent an image of you, when you’re feeling your most glam so I can see what you’re most comfortable with as this varies from each person. 

For inspiration images try and look at photos in the natural light, social sites such as Tik-Tok and Instagram can be a minefield as a lot of filters and trickery of lighting is often used, where you cant even see real texture of the skin. Skin texture, lines are very normal and okay!  

Really home in on, what do you like about that particular look, is it the skin, eyeshadow colour, lashes or liquid/pencil liner?  

When you book with myself, I like to have a phone consultation ahead of your trial to make sure you are doing everything to help your skin out even down to the small steps like cleansing.  

Please double cleanse your face and wash off with a flannel to ensure a smooth base for makeup application. Avoid hot water, lukewarm is best.  

I might have a lash lift – is this ok? 

I love an LVL, a lash lift and tint. It’s super natural approach, great if you already have full lashes too, helping to lift your natural lash to open the eye.  

If you have a lash lift do bear in mind you cannot have individual lashes too, so this is something you will want to consider.  

Another option is using a lash serum to help with the growth of your lashes ahead of your LVL if you want that fuller look.  

You can have individual cluster lashes which are bespoke to you, which I will place on the wedding morning and will come off when you cleanse in the evening, you can go as natural or as glam as you like. Or just go for the good old (waterproof) mascara.  

If you have never had lash extensions, I would really recommend trialling these out way ahead of your date with an experienced lash tech. 

This is amazing, and will be so helpful to many. Do you have a final top tip for the wedding day? 

Have some frozen cucumber slices available on the morning to help reduce under-eye puffiness (better still pop some tea spoons in the freezer) or have some under-eye patches to hand! 

If it’s a hot summer’s day, have an ice bucket to hand (not just for the fizz) but to help keep the serum and hydrating sprays nice and cool.  

I also recommend having some under eye patches (anything that contains peptides is fab) also sheet masks, I love the Charlotte Tilbury instant magic facial dry sheet mask as you can loop it around your ears and carry on with your morning. 

Most importantly ENJOY your morning, it goes so fast! Make sure all your bridal party members are in the chair at the right time (I will work with you or your planner to produce a time sheet to ensure smooth running).  

It’s a good idea to designate someone to ensure everyone has had their breakfast before they get in the glam chair. 

Sit back and enjoy the bubbles!  

RAW Makeup Artist, Harry Michael Photography

Thanks so much for sharing your inside skincare knowledge with everyone. It’s been a blast! 

Rosie recommends this skin bible: Caroline Hirons ultimate no-nonsense guide 

If you’re looking for a fabulous makeup artist (that also teaches yoga!) head over to Rosie’s website and get in touch.

Loads of love, Rach x