Good Morning ladies, are we all feeling bright and bushy-tailed this morning? So you may remember a little while ago we shared our Wedding Day Beauty Timeline, a guide to help you on your way to beauty bliss for your wedding. The Summer has come and for many of you the big day is fast approaching, so to follow up today we have some essential advice when it comes to beauty for your wedding day: 21 Beauty Tips to Avoid A Disaster on Your Wedding Day. From things that might go wrong to absolute no-no's we've got it covered to ensure you bypass any beauty disasters on the day. We all make mistakes, but you don't want to slip up on something simple, and pay for it on the wedding morning, so read on, take note and you'll be your gorgeous best as you walk down the aisle.

In The Weeks Before the Wedding

1. First of all, don't start a completely new beauty regime, stick (mainly) to your trusted routine.Using new beauty products can trigger an allergic reaction, which can greatly affect your look, this includes washing detergents, body washes and shampoos ladies. Stick to the brands you love.

2. And also, don't completely change your make up look. If you're getting your makeup professionally done it will be flawless, stick to your natural style - you want to look your very best on the day, not like somebody else.

3.  This might seem odd but avoid salt. Sodium can hold as much as fifty times its weight in water. So if you intend to shed off some pounds, simply cutting down your sodium consumption can give you great results. Alcohol and salt also leave the face swollen.

4. If you're planning a facial, peel or something more intense book an appointment at least 3 months before to avoid any allergic reactions. Don't get any major cosmetic treatments just before the wedding.

5. To be safe, get your first wax three months before the wedding, like a more intense treatment, don't try out a new wax (or get your first) just before the wedding. Your last wax should be a couple of weeks before.

What to Avoid the Week Of the Wedding

6. Try not to exfoliate your skin too much. Over-exfoliation or doing aggressive skin treatments close to your wedding day could create skin dehydration and make it difficult for make-up application.

7.  Try to stay out of the sun. Ok,  so you might say there's not much chance of getting sunburnt with our Irish weather, but it happens. The sun is always hiding behind those clouds so make sure your foundation has spf in it, and wear sunscreen where your skin is exposed. You don't want to be pink, peeling and swollen on the day!

8. While having a bit of colour on your wedding day can be nice, especially if your translucent like me, don't be tempted to get a spray tan the day or two before. Make sure to book an appointment with a professional a few days before the wedding so the excess solution can wash off.

9. Something that is a real no-no (we've heard the stories and seen the pictures) but whatever you do not cut or colour your hair too close to the wedding, if it's a disaster you will need time to fix it, if it's a few weeks before you will be able to!

10. Don't do your nails too early! Nobody wants a chip at the last minutes so book an appointment 2 days before the wedding and let everyone else do the heavy lifting - or better yet, get a Shellac which will last for 2 weeks. ( Top tip: buy the nail varnish colour just in case you need a top up last minute!)

11. Don't use heat-based styling products in your hair. Flat irons and straightening products break down the bonds of the hair and make it difficult to manipulate the hair into a hairstyle and keep it. Keep straightening to a minimum on the run up and buy a heat protection spray like L'Oreal Elnett Heat Protect Spray, it's cheap and cheerful and works wonders.

12. Don’t risk a break out. Look after your skin daily on the weeks running up to the wedding day. Watch your intake of chocolate and foods that cause blemishes.

Beauty Hazards on the Wedding Day

13. Avoid eating or drinking anything dark. Dark drinks like red wine and coffee and dark foods like chocolate can stain your teeth. I'd recommend using a whitening toothpaste, like Colgate Maxwhite, it really works and it won't break the bank.

14. Don't spf on the day. Although this is a cardinal sin in my books, spf can sometimes reflect light off your face in professional pictures, so it's not ideal for your wedding photography.

15. You're not likely to do this but, in case you're tempted - do not pluck your eyebrows on the day of the wedding! If you get them professionally done, go at least 3 days before and pluck the strays the day before the wedding. Red and irritated is not a good look!

16. Use good conditioners and hair masks on the run up to the wedding day. Don't wash your hair on the morning as it needs to be a day old to hold a hairstyle. 

17. Remember to keep hydrated - don't risk a fainting fit  so drink lots of water. If you skin is naturally dry invest in a good moisturizer at least a month before the big day. For an extra hydrated boost use oil replenishment like  Elizabeth Dehn's Vitamin C Active Moisture Serum it's pricey but a miracle worker!

18. Don't forget those neglected places - your neck, ears and hair parting don't often get exposed to sunlight, make sure you join up body and face, and avoid looking mismatched by using a bronzer that matches the undertone of your skin. 

19. Emotions will be running high and the tears will flow, but don't let your makeup flow with it. A top tip for crying gracefully while effectively keeping your mascara in one place, is to hold a tissue at the sides of your eyes and let the tears flow into it to avoid damaging your mascara and lashes. And of course invest in a good waterproof mascara!

20. Great mascara is one way to do it, but gorgeous long lashes can also be faked for maximum flutter, if you're diying the lashes, then don't scrimp on good quality glue, with all the tears and hugs, those lashes are going to work hard.

And last but not least...

21. Don't forget your bridesmaids. Make sure to get your bridesmaids professional make-up also, everyone should be looking their very best.

While most of our advice may seem like common sense, if you didn't know already, your common sense goes out the window a little bit when you're planning a wedding! So take time to fit all your pre-wedding day prep in, so there is no rush at the end!

Keep an eye out for more beauty advice in the next few weeks and you can find lots of wedding day hair and makeup advice and inspiration here.

Image Credits

Priscila Valentina via Green Wedding Shoes | Bride Getting Ready via Craig and Eva Sanders Photography | Bride Putting on her Shoes Elisa Bricker via Once Wed