Facial hair removal for your wedding day...

Unless its a photo booth 'tash then mostly wedding day Ronnies are a big no-no. Same goes for bushy brows and those random spiky chin hairs that seem to grow overnight from nowhere and have a complete mind of their own!
The best advise for hair removal for your wedding day is not to try anything new close to the date. If you are thinking of changing your preferred type of hair removal I would advise doing it well in advance.
Brows
My preference for brow hair removal is threading or tweezing. Waxing can be harsh on the delicate skin around the eyes and repeated waxing has been linked to sagging skin under the brows. There's also a danger of a reaction or burn if the wax is too hot. Threading, when done by a professional, gives sharp defined lines, removes even the teeniest hair and is very gentle on the skin. Tweezing is a good runner up, again done correctly. Pull gently and in the direction of the hair. A tip I always find useful when tweezing is to colour your brows in your ideal shape first and then remove everything outside of that shape. And remember less is more - remove as little as you can get away with as sometimes over plucked hair won't grow back.
Lips & facial hair
For me, this is where waxing wins out. Threading on the face is terribly sore (I am a bit of a wimp though, you might find it fine!) Facial waxing is quick, sore but over with in one pull and gives a smooth and clean finish.

Men have it so easy when it comes to wedding prep!

Getting the best out of your wedding makeup trial...

Makeup and hair trials are very exciting events in the countdown to the wedding day and its important that you get the very best out of your trial.
When it comes to your makeup, here are my top five tips for having the best trial.

1. Preparation...it really does pay to to spend a little bit of time looking at magazines or Pinterest, just to get an idea of the types of looks you like, or indeed don't like! Here's a link to my Pinterest bridal makeup inspiration looks - feel free to pin some and set up your own! 
2. Communication...its so important to feel comfortable enough to say what you would like - a lot of brides say things like 'I don't mind' or 'whatever you like' but personal tastes vary so much that its so important to be honest. If it helps, jot down a few key points about the areas that are most important to you. Examples might be:
• Must be long lasting
• Love eyeliner flicks
• Want skin to glow 
3. Feedback...I like to always err on the side of caution, beginning with a super natural look and then showing it to my bride. From there we can add more until we get to the 100% perfect look. I tell my brides feedback is so important, no makeup artist will mind if you say you would like to try a stronger lip colour or more blush. Whatever you do, don't leave the trial unhappy. A trial is an opportunity for you and the makeup artist to design the perfect look together so always tell them what you are thinking.
4. Timing...always allow plenty of time for your trial, about an hour and a half - you want to be able to sit down, have a good chat, share some images and ideas and then give time to try a few looks and amendments along the way. Its also a good idea to get your trial done during the day, in similar lighting to the morning of your wedding and while it can be tempting to get a trial when you have a big night out and can get some use of it, remember that makeup for a night out is so different to what you will want for your wedding day.
5. Tan...if you are planning on wearing fake tan on your wedding day then I would definitely recommend wearing it for your trial, even if its just a quick coat. It can change a look totally and mean that different shades of lip and eye colour may suit. 

Enjoy your trial!

Tanning and your wedding day...

Irish brides have a love/hate relationship with tan - we love the glow and the confidence it gives us but we hate the streaks, the unpredictability and the patches! There is nothing scarier than not being sure what colour you might wake up the morning of your wedding so here are my top tips to getting the best glow for your big day!
Less is more...
One of the reason Irish girls love tan so much is that the yellow undertones do wonders for those of us with pink pale skin. We don't really need to be super bronzed to get this effect, a light application of tan will give that lovely effect, neutralise the pink, and give a glow without looking dark. A light coat is also great for upper arms and shoulder areas which are usually on show.
Step away from the spray...
Oddly enough, I've never seen such bad hands, palms, ankles and feet as I do from spray tans. You would think that because you have gone to have a tan applied that you wouldn't need to worry about these danger areas. Unfortunately, spray tan tends to pool on these areas and because you aren't rubbing the tan in, it sits there and you end up with the orange. I feel that the results from a rub-in tan are much more natural, you can control the amount and you can make sure to go easy on the knees, ankles and feet. Use a baby wipe on the palms and between the fingers to ensure steak free hands. My favourites are Lancome Flash Bronzer Leg Gel and Cocoa Brown 1 hour tan. If you are nervous about applying it yourself or don't often tan, ask a friend who is a regular tanner to apply it for you.
Don't forget your face...
Always, always, always apply a light coat of tan to your face. Otherwise its very difficult to get a foundation shade to properly blend in with your tan, especially if its been brought to your neck and there's a line.

Happy Tanning!