MY BEAUTY ESSENTIALS FOR WEDDING SEASON

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Wedding season is underway and given that I have a couple coming up this summer - I thought it was the perfect time to share the beauty products I'll be using; from makeup to skincare prep to fragrance. As you may have guessed; it's going to be all about the fresh, natural, radiant base with a touch of glam, getting your glow through skincare and ensuring your look lasts all day - I hope you enjoy!

- SKIN AND BODY -

In terms of skincare prep - I've actually been enjoying the Dr Roebuck's Daintree AHA Brightening Mask* | £25 | full review | recently. The reason why I wanted to mention it in this post (as opposed to some of the more intense AHA / BHA masks and treatments regular readers will be familiar with me talking about) is because it's more of a gentle acid exfoliation so it won't leave your skin red - which could be a disaster if you're part of the wedding and having lots of photos taken! This will smooth and clarify the skin, as well as making it glow but it has gentle fruit-based AHAs that don't irritate my skin.

To cleanse the skin - I recommend the refreshing and cucumber-y Fresh Soy Face Cleanser* | £34 | full review. This is lightweight but nourishing and softening, leaving my skin clean but not stripped and ensuring my complexion looks healthy. For extra glow and hydration - I recommend the Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist* | £20 | full review. This thermal water-based face mist can be used in place of a toner, but also once you've finished your makeup to make sure everything looks fresh and healthy. The moisturiser I think is perfect for this sort of look is the Herbivore Botanicals Pink Cloud Moisture Cream | £42 | full review. I love this because it just makes my skin look so nice and dewy and provides lasting hydration. I tend to go for a long-wearing matte base for an event like a wedding, however you can pack in the hydration through your skincare routine so things don't look dry.

Finally - for the non-makeup portion of this post - if it's a wedding, I can't not opt for a Jo Malone fragrance! Her scents are so beautiful, light, feminine and perfect for Spring. They can be layered and there's a huge range so I feel like there's something in there for most people. My personal favourite is the gorgeous blend of floral and fruity that I get from the Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom and Honey Cologne | £94 | full review. It's a light splash of fragrance that isn't overpowering but lasts on my skin.

- MAKEUP -

Let's talk about wedding-perfect makeup! Starting with the base - I really love the Becca Backlight Priming Filter | £28 | full review. This pearly-toned primer adds a gorgeous luminosity to the skin and it's perfectly-named because once you've applied a medium-full coverage, it does just give that 'backlit' glow without giving you the dreaded Tin Man effect! The moisturiser and primer both  ensure my skin is hydrated and glowing, so the Fenty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Foundation (250) | £27 | full review | sits nicely on my skin. I love this foundation - the coverage is so easy to customise and build up or sheer out. It makes my skin look perfect and although it's matte, I don't find it drying or unflattering on my skin. It lasts all day long, so is my go-to foundation for an all-day (and night!) event like a wedding. 

Finally for base products - I have concealer and powder recommendations. I really like my Milk Makeup Flex Concealer (Medium) | £23.75 | full review | because it gives me the coverage I need without being too heavy. It's crease-proof but non-drying, which is essential for a long day. It has a slightly peachy undertone, which corrects dark circles but also has a brightening tone. I then have the powders from my Hourglass Ambient Lighting Unlocked Edit (discontinued) | £69 | full review. Unfortunately this exact palette isn't available any more but they have a vast selection of individual setting powders, blushers, highlighters and bronzers and bring out one of these larger palettes every year. These radiant, soft-focus powders set my base with zero caking up and they photograph beautifully.

The Hourglass palette also contains my go-to cheek products for a natural and radiant makeup look. There's a beautiful, soft champagne highlighter, a natural, glitter-free sheeny bronzer and two blushers (which I sometimes mix together) - one plummy and one more of a warm peachy-nude, both with a glowing finish.

On to eyeshadows - there was only going to be one palette in this post and it is, of course, the Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Palette* | £43 | full review. What can I say about this palette? I just love it! It contains every matte shade you need for a pretty, natural, yet still glam makeup look - from warm browns to taupes to berries. And there are some gorgeous shimmers in here too - it's pretty much the perfect wedding guest, bridal or bridesmaid palette. I also find this formula pigmented, easy to use and long-wearing. 

I'm also going to be a little bit controversial and say: I think you can wear glitter to a wedding! Here I have the Hourglass Scattered Light Glitter Eyeshadows in Reflect*, Aura* and Foil | £26 each. This formula is the subtle way to wear glitter - you can even just press a little bit of them on the centre of the lid to add a hint of sparkle without going all-out. The glitter is very fine and looks so pretty when it catches the light. The spongy-cream texture means it sticks to the lid and you won't get any fallout when applying them or throughout the day. Reflect is a sort of warm pearly-pink, Aura is a mauve-plum and Foil a warm orange-gold. 

I didn't have to think twice before grabbing one of my favourite lipsticks for this post: the Tom Ford Ultra Shine Lip Colour in Nubile | £40. I love the warm peachy-nude tone of this lipstick (which is perfect with the cheek and eye shades I've talked about in this post) but the formula is what has me reaching for it time and time again. It's pigmented and opaque but has a gorgeous sheeny finish so it fades evenly, it's quick and easy to re-apply and the hydrating formula will stop your lips getting dry throughout the day. Attending a wedding is signing up to a day of eating, drinking and lots of photographs, so I recommend something pretty and unfussy like this!

If you prefer waterproof mascara and you think you'll be tearing up during the day: go for it! I personally just don't like how it looks and feels so I will be wearing the Hourglass Caution Extreme Lash Mascara* | £25 | full review. I love the amazing volume and length this gives my lashes without being thick or clumpy. It also isn't smudgy or flaky on me, so I don't have to worry about getting panda eyes in the photos!

What are your skincare and makeup recommendations for weddings?

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