Wedding Beauty Prep Guide

Many of our brides ask us how they can prep their beauty routine for their wedding day. We can keep our brides stress-free with our services but turn to an expert who is sharing her wedding beauty tips for the best results:

On your wedding day, you’ll probably have more photos and videos taken of you than any other day of your life. With all eyes on you, you’ll want to feel and look amazing. In my experience, the best way to ensure that is to take great care of yourself; inside and out.

My name is Nika Ambrozic and I’m a pro makeup artist and hairstylist in Barcelona. I’m also the owner of Erion Bridal, an on-location wedding makeup and hair provider in Catalonia. 

For me, wedding beauty doesn’t start 3 hours before you say “I do!”. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Here’s the best thing, as a bride, you have the unique opportunity of working with a beauty expert. Think of your makeup artist and hairstylist as your beauty coach. Their job is to get you into your best shape. 

It’s a great way to learn how to best take care of your skin and hair even beyond the actual wedding day.  Here are a few of my favorite wedding beauty prep tips. 

Gorgeous skin

Any makeup artist will tell you that healthy skin is essential for perfect wedding makeup. Your skin is the first to show if you feel tired or stressed, which is what a lot of brides feel before their wedding (especially if you’re suffering from jet lag).

Start from the inside: start with a well-balanced diet with fresh fruit, vegetables, and nuts, drink enough water, sleep 8 hours a night and get regular exercise. 

Your skin will also reflect your overall well-being. Make sure to take time to unwind; get a massage, go to the spa, meditate, do yoga or do whatever that helps you relax (for me that’s a vigorous exercise like boxing).

Skin is the only organ we can also take care of from the outside. A good place to start is to have a regular skincare routine with a moisturizer, a cleanser, and a daily SPF. Keeping your skin clean, hydrated and protected from the sun is already a good starting point. 

Remember, all products should be applied from your forehead to your chest. Your neck and décolletage are just as important as your face.

You might be considering getting some esthetic procedures done like laser, peels, facials or botox. I always advise my clients to do at least one test treatment before the one they do for their wedding, allowing enough time for the skin to calm down and heal. If you want to see a list of my recommended beauty timeline, read about it on my blog.

Pro tip: When choosing a skincare product, stick to formulas that don’t have a strong smell because perfumes and essential oils are very sensitizing and will make your skin worse. 

Don’t forget the skin on your body!

If you’re showing skin, make sure you’re taking care of the skin on your body too. Exfoliating regularly and moisturizing is all you need. I love doing a homemade body scrub.  This is my favorite formula that I use: a spoonful of honey, some sugar, some olive oil, a pinch of cinnamon and a few drops of medical grade hydrogen peroxide* (used for disinfection). 

*The last ingredient may sound scary but you only squeeze in a tiny bit to help soften the sugar crystals from being so scratchy. 

I make the scrub fresh every time. Apply it on wet skin from the neck down, massage into the skin and rinse. You’ll feel like a magical goddess. You are welcome. (If you have acne on your body, you might feel more comfortable washing the olive oil off those areas.)

 Pro tip: If you want that gorgeous post-vacation glow, think about getting a spray tan. They are less dangerous than spending hours in the sun and they can last for up to 14 days.  

Last but not Least: Hair Care

Haircare is just as important as skincare. You need to take care of your scalp, the actual hair, and the ends.

When it comes to the scalp, try not to overwash your hair, that will dry it out. That means your hair will start overproducing oils or you’ll get a dehydrated and flaky scalp or even dandruff. For most people with straight hair, 2-3 times a week is more than enough and you can always rinse your hair with water in between washes (after the gym for example). Coily and curly hair can have longer breaks in between washes. 

Each hair type has different needs, so make sure you use product suited to you. Coily hair needs more moisture and can handle heavier products, while straight limp hair needs airiness and less oil. Talk to your hairstylist and get some recommendations.

Which brings me to my next point, getting a trim at your salon every 4-6 weeks will keep your hair from splitting. If you can’t get to a hairdresser, buy a silicon serum for your ends to keep them nice and healthy longer. 

Pro tip: If you need to look presentable, you’re in between washes, and you can’t pull your hair up, dry shampoo is your best friend. It’ll give you an extra day until your next wash. 

That’s it! I hope you’ve found some helpful tips and you’re ready to go down the aisle as a gorgeous bride!

I hope this has been helpful! Congratulations on your wedding and good luck!

If you are hoping to have your wedding in Barcelona and need some help with the planning, contact us, we can’t wait to work with you!

Vendor Credits:

Hair and Makeup: Erion Bridal

Planning: Barcelona Brides

Photography: Laura Stramacchi  and And I Love You So