So you’ve decided to go with your dream wedding and tie the knot somewhere with more reliable sunshine than Ireland. This is an amazing idea for so many reasons but one aspect of your day that might suffer is your beauty routine. Whether it’s too difficult to organise a makeup artist overseas, you’re going to skip the glam squad to cut costs, or you have someone hired for the big day but also want to look your best for the rest of the holiday then you will have to plan out how to handle the hotter climate. Of course all of the following tips also apply to anyone who wants to look fabulous on their summer holidays this year (who doesn’t).
- Protect your skin:
This is the number one tip for a reason. We can’t stress how important it is to use sun protection from the second you step off the plane. Now we know how tempting it is to want to be bronzed up on your big day but going about this the wrong way (scalding yourself) just isn’t worth it. Even if you think you don’t burn you may be surprised, Murphy’s Law and all that. Use a high SPF on your first couple of days in the sun and if you really want a tan you can gradually bring down the coverage as the time goes on. Our recommendation for a facial SPF would be the La Roche-Posay Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid SPF 60. Imagine looking back at your wedding photos to see a peeling nose and red face that no foundation could cover? No thank you!
- Manage the Humidity:
There’s no bigger beauty threat on a sun holiday than the damned humidity. Remember Monica in Friends? It’s just not a good look. Our biggest tip for avoiding frizz is to make sure your hair is moisturised to avoid it soaking up any extra moisture from the air. Herbal Essence Hello Hydration shampoo and conditioner is the perfect duo for the job, and the coconut scent will definitely add to your holiday mood. Follow this up with Argan or Moroccan Oil and, of course, finish with a heat protection spray. When it comes to styling your hair for the big day it’s definitely better to avoid anything too sleek or structured because it just won’t last. Instead, think along the lines of beachy waves, textured up-dos and lots of braids.
- Keep your Makeup Light:
There’s just no point in doing a very heavy makeup look as it will more than likely just melt off your face. Instead go for a tinted moisturiser or light foundation and play up the bronzer for a sun-kissed look. For an extra dewy finish, try mixing a drop of Mac’s Strobe Cream into your foundation. Everyone loves a glowing bride after all. We would also recommend to keep away from harsh eyeliner and dark eyeshadows. Instead opt for glowing pearl, champagne and bronze colours teamed with your favourite falsies to make your eyes pop, minus the chance of a black stream running down your face. If you are getting married indoors or at night you have our permission to skip the SPF for one day only. SPF shows up white in flash photography.
- Pack your Beauty Bag:
On the day itself you’ll definitely need to pack some heat and humidity defying beauty essentials. You don’t want to be lugging around a huge beauty kit, but you definitely don’t want to be stuck without something vital. Choose a small clear plastic makeup bag to make sure you’re not wasting time on the day faffing around trying to find what you are looking for. Have one of your bridesmaids pop it in her handbag, or leave it at your reception venue to ensure it’s there when you need a touch up. Pack your bag with:
- A compact mirror: vital for between photo touch ups.
- Bobby pins and a mini hairspray: don’t let that humidity get the best of you.
- Cotton buds: perfect for fixing any sliding mascara.
- Lipbalm, liner and lipstick: whatever the weather, these guys are going to need a touch up.
- Breathe mints: the heat leads to dehydration causing bad breath. Not good.
- Blotting sheets or powder: Even for the most dry-skinned lady this will be essential in hot weather. If you opt for a powder instead of blotting paper make sure you also remember to bring a brush, there is nothing worse then going in to combat an oily face and realising you have forgotten half of what you need!