By Meriel Killeen – Features Editor

Often the first thing we steal from Mum’s makeup bag as toddlers, lipstick holds a special place in our hearts. Unsurprisingly, this champion beauty product is equally as special in bringing together the perfect bridal look that is uniquely you.

But where to start!

The endless maze of lip finishes on the market can be confusing for any bride-to-be. Do you go for a hydrating gloss, a long-lasting matte, a fresh and natural sheen or a bold pout that packs a punch? Luckily we’ve done the hard work for you and hand-selected the Top 5 Bridal Lipsticks so pucker up and scroll down to meet your mouth’s perfect match…

OUR FINAL TOP TIPS:

Prep your pout with a lip scrub that will ensure the smoothest application of your chosen colour. Scrubs from MAC that are made with a delicious concoction of brown sugar can even double up as a sweet treat to calm any pre-wedding jitters. Clinique also offers a range of lip scrub shades that provide a subtle lip stain while working their exfoliating magic…

If you’ve opted for a makeup artist on your wedding day, make sure at your trial to jot down the decided lip colour and purchase one for yourself. This way your lips can stay the intended-shade of kissable all day, long after your make-up artist has left.

Getting that perfect glow on your big day starts with perfect skin. With so many products and treatments on the market, it’s hard to know where to start.

If you are planning a skin care campaign or looking for ways of improving the general look and feel of your skin for your big day, then look no further!

We caught up with pop princess turned skin guru, Natasha Hamilton, to find out all about her new venture the ‘Natasha Hamilton Skin Rejuvenation Clinic’ in Chester; and what made her take the leap from singing to skin care….

Tell us a little bit about the concept behind the new clinic Natasha…

‘Natasha Hamilton Skin Rejuvenation focuses on skin health. When you come along for a free skin consultation, I will guide you through what options are available for you and your skin concerns. I know that when it comes to skin, it isn’t one size fits all, so I always tailor a bespoke skin programme for each client. I will also share my knowledge so that you can make informed decisions on what it is your skin actually needs. Together we will create an amazing skin journey that will give you real results.’

So what made you make the leap from showbiz to skin care?

‘I’ve always had a big passion for skin. It’s something I’ve looked after since a very young age. Travelling the world as part of a band was really gruelling and the pressures that came along with that always took its toll on my skin, so I was always looking for the latest trends or best products that would keep my skin in top condition.

‘It was this passion that encouraged me to go back to college a few years ago and study beauty from the ground up. I enrolled to a private course and gained my level 2 beauty, I then went down the level 3 holistic therapies path. I studied in massage, hot stone massage and Indian head massage to name a few. Then I trained with the Nouveau Beauty Group where I gained HD Brow Pro status and learnt LVL lashes. I just loved learning and gaining a wealth of knowledge from the industries leaders.

‘But as my early 30s were passing by, I realised that I wanted to focus my time on skin – this was something that really interested me and also I wanted the best non-invasive treatments for myself to delay the signs of ageing without the use of botox and fillers if possible.

‘After spending a small fortune on different products, I decided that I wanted to finally invest in a brand that worked. So I did a lot of research and one by one, got rid of lots of my products. The brand that stood out by a mile was Environ, their ethos and the science behind the brand just made sense. Add to that the amazing results I was seeing from their facials and products and it was a no-brainer. I chose to study with them and I am now a fully qualified Environ Skin Therapist.’

What kind of treatments do you offer?

‘In my clinic, I offer Environ Facials that use sound waves and electrical currents to that will deliver the active ingredients of the products 40 times deeper in to the dermis than topically applied creams, leaving the skin totally intact. There is no damage or removal of skin and you can have as many of these treatments as you like. A course of Environ Facials would be the perfect package for any bride to be as they are non-invasive but deliver amazing results with no down time.

‘I also offer Dermaplaning Deluxe – I use a blend of vitamins, oils and AHA gentle acid peels. These won’t make your skin ‘peel’ and turn red, but will exfoliate the top layer of skin and melt off debris in a gentle way, making way for new skin cells to emerge.

‘Dermaplaning is a simple and safe procedure for also ridding the skin of fine vellus hair (peach fuzz), that traps dirt and oils. It promotes deeper product penetration, boosting the effects of skin care products while making the skin look and feel smoother and also can reduce the appearance of acne scars.

‘Microneedling is a procedure that uses small needles to prick the skin. One of the main microneedling benefits is its ability to stimulate the growth of collagen and elastin, which is the key to new, youthful-looking skin. Skin will appear smoother, firmer and more toned. It is also the perfect treatment for those looking to reduce the appearance of acne scars and stretch marks. It also reduces pore size. I would consider this the best all round skin rejuvenation treatment that will target skin concerns at their core and deliver fantastic results.

Why Chester?

‘This is where I live with my family now. We moved to Chester six years ago. For me I wanted to be able to work close to where I lived and where my children are so that juggling my work/family life was as easy as it could be.’

What can we expect from you over the this year?

‘I will be growing the business and will still be learning all the time. I have researched some fantastic treatments that I would like to bring over from America and offer to my clients. I am also still performing and gigging throughout the year with Liz McClarnon.’

Natasha’s Top-Tips for getting your skin wedding ready!

‘The number one thing is starting your skin care routine as early as you possibly can, ideally 18 – 12 months in advance. You can achieve great skin in a shorter amount of time but you will need to choose facials that you know are gentle to the skin and do not cause too much down time.

‘Regular facials will massage your skin, scalp and décolletage to stimulate blood circulation and keep your skin looking healthy. This is something simple that can be done at home. I’m a big fan of the Gua Sha lymphatic drainage technique. Gua Sha is a natural, alternative therapy that involves scraping your skin with a massage tool to improve your circulation. You can find videos on this on Instagram and this is a purse friendly way of doing your own Bespoke Facial at home.

‘If you want to cover the skin as a whole, as it’s the largest organ on the body, supplementation is key. On your big day your face, décolletage, arms, back are all on show so don’t just fixated on one part of your body. A supplement will cover all of the skin – the Advanced Nutrition Programme supplements are great, using superior quality ingredients with no artificial colours or flavours; they are gluten free and their ingredients are from sustainable sources.

‘Another ‘must-do’ is introducing a multi vitamin to your daily routine. They contain a whole host of vitamins and minerals – omegas are anti-inflammatory and great for skin and overall skin protection and they really help lock in hydration so perfcet for those with dry skin.

‘I would recommend Skin Vitality 2 from this range which contains all the above and added Vit C great for overall skin health.

‘For those with congestion getting a facial that includes steaming and extractions is a great way to start getting those pores clear and refined – doing this yourself at home could lead to irritated skin or scarring from squeezing too hard so best to have this done professionally.

‘Superficial peels are great for minimising pores too as they will dissolve the dirt trapped in the pores they promote call renewal by keeping that outer layers of skin smooth. In my clinic I use up to a 40% glycolic peel (but you have to work your way up to this) This is still classed as a superficial peel as it only takes away the top dead layer of skin. Be careful having anything stronger though, especially close to the big day as your skin could react.

‘Dermaplaning is great for those wanting a really smooth base for their makeup and a more smoother looking complexion. I would recommend trying this out a few months before the big day to see if it’s something you like. With any exfoliation, you can experience break outs afterwards, but if you have this once a month for 6 month on the lead up to the big day your skin will see a massive difference in its smoothness, especially as this creates a clear base for your products to penetrate deeper into the skin, so you will be getting the best out of the products you use.

‘Starting a cleanse, tone and moisturising routing religiously night and day is so important as it regulates the skin. We’ve all gone to bed at some point without taking our makeup off but this really will reverse all the hard work you have been doing. As soon as you get home from work, get into the habit of doing you skincare routine as standard. When it gets late we’re just too tired and can’t be bothered. This way it’s all done and out of the way, and you can even add a mask into your routine twice a week too.’

Nars all Day Luminous Weightless Foundation (£35)

Don’t be fooled by the slightly runny texture, this ultra-dewy formula gives long lasting coverage and a gorgeous glow.

Top Tip – the Nars girls stressed that this is best applied with your fingertips so ditch the brushes and sponge.

Body Shop Fresh Nude Foundation – Editors Choice (£16)

Our foundation-fanatic editor absolutely loved this super-affordable Body Shop offering. Normally a designer brand stalwart, she loved the light-hydrating texture which gives a beautiful fresh-faced look with lasting coverage. Available in 16 semi-matte shades its our top recommendation for budget conscious brides.

Estee Lauder Doublewear Foundation (£32.50)

The Duchess of all foundation brands, Doublewear has always been famed for its total coverage and is rightly hailed as the UK’s No1 foundation.

Although its texture appears quite heavy it means you only need a tiny bit to ensure maximum coverage for up to 15 hours.

We recommend going for a slightly lighter shade than normal and building colour with powder and blush.

Maybelline Dream Satin (£7.99)

The bargain option, this liquid make up sensation still gives an air-brush, radiant finish.

This air-whipped formula contains hyaluronic acid and gives the lightness of a mousse in a smooth, liquid foundation.

This foundation gives a medium coverage that is flawless, seamless, smooth and subtly luminous.

And the downside? Be prepared for regular ‘touch-ups’ as its staying power is quite poor, however if a natural look is your thing this would be an excellent shout.

Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra Long Wear Foundation (£35)

Another firm favourite with the team, its ‘shine free’ texture means this is an excellent choice for those who have an oily complexion.

A heavy duty, long lasting super-foundation we would recommend teaming it with a luminous primer to get that all important bridal glow.

That said the overall texture really does give this designer potion a real ‘no make-up’ feel.