One of the greatest things about our Brown Thomas Bridal Event back in March was that guests got to pick the brains of Aidan Corcoran, a member of the Brown Thomas Beauty Style Team and my new personal skincare idol (seriously, the man glows!). His advice was so terrifically practical that we just had to share it with you - from must-have products to the essential makeup trial checklist, his bridal beauty tips will help you get the most out of your makeup artist, and create a wedding makeup look that you’re absolutely thrilled with. So, let’s get stuck in!
Tips for Planning Your Wedding Makeup Look
1. Listen to your makeup artist
Remember that your makeup artist is a seasoned pro and that their advice on the technical aspects of beauty, from product formulations to eyeliner shapes - is really valuable. “Bridal makeup is a collaborative experience,” Aidan says. “It’s a mix of professional advice from your makeup artist and the bride’s idea of how she would like to look.”
2. … but stick to your guns!
There are no hard and fast rules for bridal makeup! If you want to wear electric blue eyeliner or strip it right back to nude eyeshadow, you should, so long as you’ve thought through your look and road-tested it in your trial. “Good advice is always that, just advice!” Aidan says. “I’ll always offer my professional advice on what I think is the most beautiful option for my brides, but ultimately, it’s your wedding day and whatever decision you make is the right decision for you.”
3. Don't stray too far from your everyday makeup
While nothing is out of bounds on your wedding day, it’s important that your makeup reflects your everyday style, whether that’s wild and experimental, or natural and minimal (or a mixture of both!). “Your wedding day isn’t the time to try something new,” Aidan says. “You should feel and look like the most beautiful version of yourself. If you don't usually wear a dramatic eye or lip, you could feel uncomfortable and looking back at photos. You might not recognise yourself!”
4. Think about the wedding as a whole
“The style of the dress and theme of the wedding need to be considered to recommend the perfect makeup,” Aidan says. For example, glitter and sparkle may not be appropriate for a church ceremony, but perfect for tying the knot in the woods at a festival-themed wedding!
5. Consider the season
We all know that the weather can have a huge effect on your skin, so make sure that your makeup artist is briefed on your actual wedding date. “Using the right powder like MAC blot powder is a great way to manage shine on a super warm day, and in the winter time using a hydrating mist to help reenergise the skin can be very helpful.”
6. Spend time finding the perfect lip colour
“Choosing a lip colour can be one of the most difficult bridal makeup decisions,” Aidan says. “It’s a great idea to try a few, even by yourself coming up to and after your trial. A good lip colour should be one that instantly adds a vibrancy to your skin, if it’s a nude it should be one that lifts up your skin tone. If it’s more of a statement colour, the undertone should complement your skin tone. The texture is important too, you’ll want one that is able to last all day. Tom Ford have the perfect long lasting lipsticks, a little pricier but they are like jewellery for your wedding!”
7. Prepare for tears!
It’s safe to assume that your wedding day will be an emotional one, but your makeup shouldn’t have to suffer! “Consider getting your lashes tinted and some semi-permanent lashes on, that way you might not even have to use a mascara,” Aidan suggests. “Definitely use waterproof products for everything, that would my norm for all my brides. Layering all of your products lightly will help them last also. Tears are all part of the experience though! The emotions on a wedding day are all natural and should be enjoyed, nerves and all!”
Tips for Getting your Skin Ready For the Big Day
8. Start drinking water, like, yesterday
“There is a huge difference in how makeup sits, lasts and looks on well cared-for skin versus skin that is a little less loved,” Aidan says. Water is the single easiest thing you can do to improve the look of your skin, he explains. “No one drinks nearly enough water, including myself! I’m a huge believer in 2 to 3 litres of water a day.”
9. Pile on on the SPF
Daily sunscreen use not only protects you from harmful UV exposure, but it can also improve the tone and texture of the skin! Don’t wait until summer - Aidan recommends that you wear it every day, even in cold climates.
10. Ramp up your skincare routine
“Starting a skincare bootcamp 3 to 6 months before your wedding is a great idea,” Aidan says. “It takes time to see major differences in the skin. Facials are a great option, at Brown Thomas we have a fully redeemable facial service on our Beauty Style Team menu where we can recommend your perfect bootcamp routine. A win, win!”
Tips for Your Wedding Makeup Trial
11. Coordinate hair and makeup
Lots of brides organise their hair and makeup trial for the same day but if that’s not possible, you should aim to meet your hairdresser first, or at least decide on the style you want to go for. That way, you know whether to wear your hair up or down on the day of your trial, and this will really help you visualise the overall look!
12. Wear white (or whatever colour you're wearing on your wedding day!)
It's important that the makeup artist knows how the colour you're wearing will affect your skin tone. For example, if white makes your skin look a little pale, they can adjust the products to add warmth to your skintone. “A white shirt would be perfect,” Aidan says.
13. Test all of your beauty treatments at once
If you’re having tan, semi-permanent lashes or any other beauty treatments, it’s smart to test them around the time of your makeup trial. “A good makeup artist can always match you up on the day to a tan but sometimes blusher colours can look completely different on a paler skin versus a warmer skin tone.”
14. Bring photos
If you’re not used to having your makeup done, you might find that describing your dream beauty look is quite tricky! “If you have some inspirational photos, show them to your makeup artist,” Aidan says. “Everyone is always going to have a different version of a smoky eye.” It’s a good idea to have pictures of your dress and wedding venue handy too. “I also like to know if there’s any specific bridal photos they’d like on the day,” Aidan says. “One of my brides wanted to have some of her photos on a beach beside the Atlantic Ocean, which impacted on the foundation choice!”
15. Stay out all night long!
This really is the best way to test the durability of your makeup look and troubleshoot any issues, which you can then report back to your makeup artist. “It’s a good idea also to photograph your trial makeup both indoors and outside to ensure you’re happy with how it looks in all settings,” Aidan adds. Get that smartphone out!
16. Purchase key items
Your wedding makeup needs to last for around 12 to 18 hours, so there will be multiple top-ups throughout the day! It’s best to buy a few products after your trial, once you and your makeup artist have decided on the final look. “Your lip products, a powder and a concealer are always handy!” Aidan says. “Sometimes it's good to have a darker pencil eyeliner so you can amp up your eyes in the evening time.”
Wedding Makeup Tips for the Big Day
17. Plan your makeup schedule wisely
Every makeup artist will have their own preffered way of working, but Aidan’s system, which sees him working on Mums first and the bride last, works well for most bridal parties. “Mums on wedding morning are always the busiest people, worried about everyone and making sure all the windows are locked, cousins looked after and pets fed! If left last, they might not be able to watch their daughter get dressed and could be too busy to enjoy the experience themselves. I like to makeup the bride last or second last. This just gives me more time and frees up the bridesmaids to do last-minute jobs. It’s great to have a few bridesmaids dressed too before the bride as they can then help the bride herself get dressed.”
18. Allow extra time for LOLs
You want your wedding morning to be full of hugs, laughs and glasses of bubbly, so make sure to allocate time for this! “I like to give brides an hour for makeup,” Aidan says. “Generally 45 minutes is enough for the bridesmaids and it’s always nice to have too much time on a wedding morning! There’s always photos or surprise visits from a neighbour or relative that slow the morning down.”
19. Appoint a Glam Manager!
There is such a thing as too much faffing around on the wedding morning, so ask a relative or pal to help keep things moving. “Sometimes the bridal room can get quite chaotic with people coming in and out,” Aidan says. “Even having a bridesmaid who is able to usher people in and out of the space if it gets a bit too much can be a godsend!”
The Brown Thomas Beauty Style Team Bridal Package
Aidan and the Beauty Style team at Brown Thomas have created a gorgeous new bridal package, which covers everything that you (and your bridal party!) need for your big day. Priced €1500*, the Brown Thomas Beauty Style Team Bridal Package includes a Beautiful Bride makeup trial, a Luxury Bridal facial, €500 to redeem on product in the Brown Thomas Beauty Hall, and makeup for you and your bridal party (up to five members) on the day.
To book the Brown Thomas Beauty Style Team Bridal Package, phone 01 6171172 or email beautystyleteam@brownthomas.ie
*cost based on Dublin locations only, additional costs may incur with travel and accommodation for regional wedding destinations.
Featured Image Credit: Esther Sun Photography via Style Me Pretty
