How to create my signature glowy bridal skin

Many of my brides ask for glowy skin. Glowy but not sweaty skin has been the goal for many of my brides over the past few years, no matter what your skin tone or hair colour this is one look that suits all brides and can be achieved in varying degrees. Whether you want a flawless makeup look or something more on the natural side products to achieve the glow have been popular for years.

But how do you achieve that glow with makeup without looking sweaty?

The key is to layer up products that all have a glow and then depending on how oily you are to just powder the areas you need to. Usually down the centre of the face is where most people tend to naturally shine. That said if you do have oily skin and shine everywhere then I would powder the whole face after the foundation.

So here are some tips I use to create my signature bridal glow that will last from the ceremony till the end of the night.

I always prep the skin really well with a serum and a moisturiser even if you have oily skin, this creates a base for the rest of the products.

I love a primer and most of them have an SPF in as well which is perfect if you have a summer or destination wedding. I apply the primer over the whole face, it smooths out the texture of your skin and helps the makeup to last longer as well. In my opinion an essential bridal product. In my Bridal kit at the moment is the Laura Mercier pure canvas primer which is silicone-free and glides effortlessly onto the skin it also has an SPF30. I find it gives a slight coverage as well.

To create that glow on the skin I use the MAC strobe cream which is light reflective without looking glittery it gives the skin a lift almost, depending on your skin tone there are different options. I use the pink one at the moment which has pearlised undertones. This is my first layer to create that glow! Depending on the structure and texture of the bride's face I will either apply over the whole face or just the high points.

If my client has normal to dry skin I use a foundation like NARS natural radiant foundation and mix in some of the strobe cream. You are still getting the coverage you want bu with a natural glow, it means you control the amount.

If my bride has oily to combination skin I love the Nars natural radiant foundation which on its own has a demi-matte finish and a medium to full coverage. I use a brush to apply this foundation. A duo fibre brush I find works well as it blends the foundation into the skin flawlessly with no streaks. I then apply another layer of the strobe cream normally onto the cheekbones and high points of the face, cream goes on better to cream so I don't powder yet.

Next, I apply concealer at, the moment I really like the Nars radiant creamy concealer which is perfect for under the eyes and to cover up any blemishes without looking too heavy. I use the MAC #217 brush to softly blend in the concealer.

If my bride wants a heavier makeup look the Tarte shape tape concealer which is totally flawless and also matte is perfect for longevity and coverage. The shade range is good and I use this a lot for my TV work as well. I like to use a damp sponge to apply on the skin gently rolling so as not to blend away the concealer.

Next, I powder just on the areas that I know will get oily throughout the day, in my kit at the moment is the Laura Mercier translucent powder. This has been a staple of mine since I worked for Laura Mercier when they first launched in the UK many years ago. The powder literally suits any skin tone and sets makeup without looking cakey or heavy or like you are wearing powder at all which is exactly what I need to create that lasting glow on the skin.

Then comes the blusher, obviously, I want to create a glow so I tend to use blushers with a slight shimmer. For brides the perfect shade is MAC Trace Gold blush which as the name suggests has a slight gold tone. Then depending on how my bride wants to look, I add a pinky or peachy blush to the apples of the cheeks. I love MAC Springheen which is peach with a gold undertone. Or Nars orgasm blusher.  The MAC 129# brush is perfect for the apples of the cheeks.

The last stage is the wow moment! Every bride I apply the highlighter to literally goes wow!  When they look in the mirror. The highlighter just finishes off a bridal look and I would say 90% of my brides choose to add a highlighter to their look.

I always have a few on the go, at the moment  Laura Gheller gilded honey is top of the list. It’s a baked cream so you get a glow that doesn't look powdery and its slightly golden hue suits most skin tones. I apply this to the high points of the face. The bridge of the nose not the end, the cheekbones, just under the brow. I use a smallish brush to apply highlight as a general rule, not too fluffy but quite firm.

I also have in my bridal kit Becca Champagne Pop which is a powder highlighter. With an almost silver/gold glow which again suits most skin tones. I apply it to the high points of the face as before. Champagne Pop also comes in a liquid which I use instead of the strobe cream when I want even more of a glow!

 After around an hour a brides make up will have sunk into the skin and have a not so ‘made up look’ to create this look at the end of the makeup application after I have applied the eye make up lipstick and everything I tend to spray the MAC fix plus which is a hydrating spray and again creates a glow to the skin without looking shimmery.

After this stage, I go back in with whichever highlighter I have used on my bride to the high points of the face, I don’t tend to add anything else.

There are so many highlighters on the market and this is just a few I have in my bridal kit at the moment. Ultimately you want to apply sparingly and build up gradually and blend as much as possible! It's not about a stripe or a line it's more about the highlighter looking like it comes from within hence creating a glow!