Brides Makeup

For blemish free skin, drink lots of water and adopt a good skin-care routine. Here is lots of guidance on how to achieve a flawless skin.

Cleansing

One of the worst things one can do to the skin is go to bed with makeup still on the face. This can age the skin significantly and it will clog the pores and can cause eruptions. Cleansers will also remove any dirt and any dead skin cells from the surface of the skin.

It can be a challenge to find the right cleanser for a person's skin type however, once the right one is found, it is best to stay with that cleansing product. Changing cleansers over and over can be hard on the skin. The use of traditional soap should be avoided as this is drying and harsh, and also does little to take makeup off the skin.

It is important to cleanse the skin twice a day, morning and night. This is frequent enough to take care of the oils and makeup that has been used without damaging the skin by over cleansing. Use lukewarm water and a small amount of cleanser. Apply the cleanser using circular movements of the hands. Then rinse with lukewarm water. We would recommend a natural cleanser containing no preservatives or parabens like this Iona Cosmetics Aromatherapy Collection Cleansers.

Exfoliating

Skin is living tissue but as it ages it goes through a replacement cycle. It keratinises and forms the horny layer, also referred to as the Stratum Corneum.

The dead cells shed naturally over a period of time, but should the cells not naturally and totally shed, a build-up of dead skin cells results. These dead cells are damaging to the complexion, making a person look tired and the skin less radiant.

To restore the skin's appearance, exfoliating with a good facial scrub can achieve really good and gentle results. Exfoliating is basically scrubbing the skin in order to remove the dead cells that are present on the epidermis layer of the skin. To exfoliate, use a scrub once a week as part of the skin care regimen. One thing that a person must look for in a good exfoliating medium is that the granules used are of such a nature so as not harm the skin, or to cause micro-wounds through the use of sharp edged granules.

Some people can be over zealous when it comes to skin exfoliation, and only in cases of extreme skin neglect is it necessary to exfoliate every couple of days. However, that said, each skin type requires a different frequency of exfoliation. For oily skin, a person should exfoliate once or perhaps twice a week. A person with normal or dry skin should exfoliate once a week and someone with sensitive skin should only exfoliate once every two to three weeks. It should be noted, however, that the facial skin is a delicate area and one should not be over fervent when using an exfoliant.

We would recommend Iona Cosmetics Aromatherapy Collection Cleansers

Toners

This is a lotion or wash designed to cleanse the skin and shrink the pores after cleansing or exfoliating. Some people dispute whether toner is actually necessary if the skin has been thoroughly cleansed, and prefer to use plain water instead. That said, using a toner can leave the skin feeling refreshed and can remove any last small remnants of cleanser.

Toners can be applied to the skin in different ways:

- On damp cotton wool pads which is the most frequently used method
- Spraying onto the face using a vaporiser
- By applying a tonic gauze facial mask - a piece of gauze covered with toner and left on the face for a few minutes.

Toner can be applied to the skin after being cleansed daily or after exfoliation when that stage has also been completed. It is important that the face is dry before the next and final stage is undertaken.

A toner containing natural ingredients would be recommended like this Iona Cosmetics Aromatherapy Collection Cleansers

Moisturisers

Moisturisers act as a barrier to water loss through evaporation. Moisturisers will keep a person looking younger with smoother skin. No matter what age a person is, no matter what skin type they have, facial moisturisers are very important to the skin's epidermal well-being. As stated previously, the skin is living tissue and will respond to liquids and lotions, creams and gels. Everyone needs moisturiser even if they have oily skin. Tinted moisturisers are also available for pale skin.

Facial moisturisers keep the skin healthy and protect it from dryness in several ways. First they attract moisture deep into the skin cells, which keeps them juicy and plump. Second, they seal the moisture in with an occlusive coating and third, they help fill in the gaps between the skin cells which keeps the skin's function holding strong and firm. Moisturisers do not prevent wrinkles unless they contain sunscreen.

A good skincare routine will mean moisturising morning and night on a daily basis whatever the person's skin type may be. They may wish to use a night cream for their night-time routine which is a heavier moisturiser and beneficial for the skin as it renews itself more actively during a person's sleeping hours.

Moisturisers come in various types, balms and creams are the thickest and greasiest; oils and lotions are lighter and more fluid; gels are clear or translucent and the lightest of all. A general rule of thumb is the thicker the texture, the more oil; the thinner the texture, the more water (unless the product itself is an oil).

We need to provide the skin with a shield against the environment. That said, a client should be made aware, however, that overuse of moisturiser is as bad as not using any. Too much moisturiser can lead to clogged pores and blackheads.

A great moisturiser which will leave your skin feeling soft however immediately ready for foundation application is here Iona Cosmetics Aromatherapy Collection Cleansers

Give yourself plenty of time to experiment with your makeup styles. A couple of dry runs well before your big day so you have the makeup style and look perfected well ahead of time.

Try and remember a few essential items to put in your wedding dolly bag so that you can touch up your makeup when you need to - lipstick/gloss/balm, powder etc., oh and a small bottle of the perfume you're wearing so you can continue to smell gorgeous as well as look gorgeous on your special day.