We reached out to one of our favorite hair and make-up artists for weddings, Allee Gushwa of Allee Do My Makeup about how you can make sure you have the very best face on your big day! She has some amazing and very doable tips for all brides!!!

So you’ve conquered the hardest parts of wedding planning; you’ve said yes to the dress, the venue is booked (hopefully it’s Lake Max Meadows), invitations are in mailboxes, and you haven’t even had THAT many meltdowns. Things are looking good, girl. Now let’s talk about the fun stuff! Like, ya know, your Pinterest board of bridal glam that you’ve been saving for longer than you would actually admit ( trust me, I’m just as guilty).

I’ve been a certified makeup artist specializing in Bridal for three years, primarily working in the Northern Indiana/Southern Michigan market. I am not an esthetician or dermatologist – I’m not your girl for medical advice. What I am, though, is a seasoned pro on how to guarantee a flawless face for the big day. After all, your makeup can only be as good as the surface you provide – imagine putting foundation on a brick vs putting it on glass. Stick with me – we’ve got this.

TIP #1: HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE!

Have you ever had chapped lips in the middle of summer? Or, as my mother used to call it, crocodile skin on your legs? There are a few reasons for this, but here’s the deal: you need to drink more water. Drinking the recommended amount of water daily during the week leading up to the wedding can make a world of difference in your skin. Proper hydration can reduce dry lips, flaky and textured skin, and undereye puffiness and dark circles. Water is the key, you guys. Make a Target run and pick up a cute water bottle. Whatever it takes. Make it work.

Another pitfall - SOO many beauty products actually contain ingredients that dry out your skin. Heavily fragranced products can cause irritation on the outer layer of skin, resulting in redness and dryness. That Victoria’s Secret lotion you’ve been putting on your legs after the shower? Mmmm, probs best to switch it out for something from the Hempz brand of moisturizers. Pro Tip: if you didn’t know this secret, now you do – product ingredients are listed in order of how much is in the product. You want those natural oils as high on the list as possible! As far as lip balms or glosses, do your best to avoid products contain menthol, camphor, and phenol. Frequently used to give us that tingly “it’s definitely working!” feeling, those ingredients are known by dermatologists to be very common causes of dermatitis on the lips. Instead, a personal favorite of mine is Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Mask. This can be applied at any time, not just bedtime, and it is a game changer! Smooth, supple lips without flaking or peeling. You can’t be chapped for that first kiss moment!

TIP #2: CHILL OUT

Ok, I know. Every person that has ever planned a wedding is rolling their eyes right now. Hear me out. Stress causes your body to do insane things. Zits (and then if you’re a picker on top of that – OMG), sleep deprivation, muscle tension, excess facial oil production…the list goes on. All of those issues can contribute to skin that just looks blah. I can’t make the stress go away, but I can help you deal with the havoc it’s wreaking on you. First commandment of good skin is to NEVER, EVER, EVER sleep in your makeup. I will know if you did. I always know. I am the makeup police. Please invest in a quality, non-drying facial cleanser to use in the evenings. My personal favorite is Fresh’s Soy Face Cleanser. A nickel sized amount lathers nicely and leaves me feeling clean, but without that tight, stripped feeling some cleansers give.

Another holy grail product I keep on hand at all times are the Clearasil Rapid Rescue Healing Patches. If you’re a picker, I cannot recommend these enough. They are a small, translucent patch that you apply on top of your problem spots. By morning, it literally sucks out to grossness and reduces the size of your pimple. They make it impossible to pick and inflame, and they blend so smoothly with your skin you can even apply makeup over them. They’re magic – it’s just the truth.

TIP #3 – DON’T SKIP THE TRIAL

So listen, unless you are a Kardashian (if you are and you’re reading this, DM me – I want to get on that payroll), you will probably never have your picture taken as much as you will on your wedding day. Your family and friends will look back on those pictures for years, even generations. Please trust the professionals when we give you advice on your look for the day. Makeup intended to be photographed is not that same as the makeup you put on for work; it is fuller coverage, the eyes are more defined, the lashes are longer. This is because we want you to look perfect on film. Say yes to the fake eyelashes – yep, they sure do feel funny at first; that goes away, but your eyes will pop in every single picture.

I require a trial for every bride I book – seriously, I will NOT accept a booking without a trial. We need this consultation time to learn about your style, your skin, your goals – we work for you, so we need the opportunity to learn your vision for your bridal glam. It’s also your chance to “practice” wearing your bridal look; the moment of truth between nude lips and red lips. One of my favorite tips to give a bride is to take a few selfies in their trial look in natural lighting (car selfies, hello!) AND have a friend (or your partner if you don’t mind them seeing) take a picture of you from about 6 feet away. Look at yourself in both photos – the selfie is how your spouse will see you, and the “socially distanced” photo is how must of your guests will see you. Share with your bridal party and ask for opinions if you’re unsure! Trials are just practice runs for the real thang, ladies.

When it’s all said and done, the most important part of looking good on your wedding day is always looking HAPPY. Nobody will remember what color your napkins were or if the DJ played the Cha Cha Slide twice. Everyone will remember how your spouse looked at you when you walked down the aisle. Everyone will remember how big your smile was as you listened to your best friends toast to your new marriage. Enjoy the moments as they come, because any bride will tell you that the whole day is a whirlwind. Breathe, let the pros handle it. After all, that’s what you hired us for!