Wedding beauty prep - who's with me?

[MissMogwai]

I hate the term 'princessing' but basically I need to get my shit together, grooming wise. I get married in 3 months and I want to look as good as I can.

This is my list so far:

I have decent skin but I look nackered so I'm trying to get more sleep and drink more water.

I'm using a new night cream which promises hydrated plumped skin - we will see!

I'm losing weight (needed even if I wasn't getting married!) so I need to keep that up

I need to whiten my teeth - any recommendations?

I need to decide if I'm having a make up artist or DIY. If DIY I need to learn how to do eye make up.

I'm in!

I'm getting married in October, I've brought a Tria which I've been using to treat acne scars, using tre and trying to keep my skin hydrated.

I've lost a stone on low-carb bootcamp and have a fair amount more to go.

I'm happy doing my own makeup but my bridesmaids aren't confident. I don't want to spend the morning doing theirs but likewise it wouldn't seem right to pay someone to do theirs and not mine. I recommend Lisa Eldridge videos if you want to learn. Lots of great bridal looks and nothing too complicated.

I've used crest strips before, which were good. Not sure of where you'd get them from legitimately though.

Thanks for the reply!

I'll have a look for those videos, thank you. I need to practise eye shadow and liner.

Well done on the weight loss! I've also lost over a stone, struggling a bit now after Xmas.

I'm trying to drink more water and knock the coffee and Coke Zero on the head.

Trying to cut down on alcohol and trigger foods (tomatoes, chocolate and a few more) as I have rosacea and trying to keep my skin as clear as possible.

I really should sort my hair out as I haven’t had a haircut in yonks.

I’m not a very girly girl if that makes sense - I don’t really ‘get’ beautifying. E.g. I wear minimal makeup and rarely do much with hair, nails, etc. I think my fiancé / husband is just going to have to take me as I am

Totally agree with drinking more water - will try and keep this up too!

My wedding is two months today, eeeek! Good luck with your planning!

2 months! How exciting! Are you all sorted and ready?

I have been using Soolantra from the GP for the past year and my rosacea has completely cleared up. Worth a try?

I do wear make up and make an attempt at my hair most of the time. I just want to look good, glowing/ healthy and not shattered and pissed off looking as I am usually 😂

I've looked up a few local make up artists and their clients all look very young and contoured and shiny. Beautiful but very 'done' - it's just not me. So I will do my own and just buy some new make up I think.

I had a chat with my bridesmaids last night and decided to all do our own makeup. I'm going on a work trip to the states next week so I might splurge on some new makeup.

We've got a date in the diary when they're all going to come around with my DB's DP, who's doing our hair. Have snacks, bubbly and a play around with hair/ makeup. Really looking forward to it.

I've booked a make up session at Boots as I mainly wear No 7, so I will see how that goes. I have sensitive skin so I don't want to enrage the beast now it's under control, with any new brands.

My bridesmaids are my teenage daughters who are immaculately groomed at all times as it is, and are much better at it than I am. So I will treat them to new make up etc for the day.

I've had pancakes for tea, so not a good day for the diet...

Seems we are all doing our own makeup then.

@MissMogwai thanks for tip re: soolantra, skin is pretty good right now but should I get any flare-ups I’ll bear it in mind. I also wear no. 7, I like their stuff a lot. Yes to pancakes - same here, but never mind, tomorrow is another day!

Yeah we’re pretty organised but then we are having a super low-key day - basically going to the (admittedly very nice) registry office / town hall and then down the pub. OH is scottish and there will be a lot of kilts around which I am happy with, including himself of course! What are your plans?

@whitershadeofpale I might have to look up lose carb boot camp! I definitely find low carb diets work for me. Onwards and upwards after pancake day and all that... how many bridesmaids are you having?

@Sapphire387 the bootcamp is on here. We’ve been going a few weeks but join in www.mumsnet.com/Talk/low_carb_bootcamp/3831333-jan-20-week-7-low-carb-bootcamp-the-last-month?msgid=94221355 its great for support and ideas.

I’m having 3 bridesmaids.

@Sapphire387 your wedding sounds wonderful and relaxed! I'm also having a registry office wedding, the last appointment of the day and then a big party in the evening.

It's relatively simple but I have had some stress over bloody chair covers of all things recently. Ridiculous!

I'm excited and can't wait to be married but also a bit nervous and anxious about all of it coming together on the day.

Diet wise, I'm doing SlimmingWorld (pancakes aside), but I'm struggling to get back on it at the mo!

I'm in! Getting married in August and keep thinking I need to get my teeth whitened - I drink a lot of black coffee and red wine so they could definitely do with a bit of bleaching.

I'm doing ok on the weight loss (intermittent fasting) but I'm a bit unsure about my hair and makeup. I have grey hair (well, I like to think of it as silver) which used to be in a crop but I've been growing it for the last few months in a bid to 'do something' with it. But part of me just thinks I should crop it all off again so at least I know it will behave on the day.

I loathe having my photo taken, really really hate it, so I am somewhat dreading that side of things and worrying a bit that I'm just going to look like a sad old overdressed baggage....

I'm 65 days to go! I've been trying to moisturise I have a weird dry patch on my arm. I got my highlights done at the weekend and I'll get them done a wee bit before the wedding. Also I feel like I should just move into the gym I'm there all the time. I paid for group personal training so that helped keep me motivated. Was doing deadlifts tonight .

Trying to get my fiance to stop biting his nails extremely difficult so any tips for that will be appreciated!

@Lyricallie you sound super committed at the gym! I admire your dedication, I could do with some of that!

Not sure on the nail biting - do they still make that nasty tasting clear polish?

@ApplesAndCheese I'm with you on the photos. I used to hate it, to the point it was a severe phobia. I've had hypnotherapy and it has worked to a point. I'm not keen though and have banned any cheesy wedding shots such as us gazing at each other round a tree 😂

I'm also getting married in 3 months (3.5ish) and have recently started trying to get my shot together.

I'm having the smallest budget of a wedding ever so have no choice but to do my own make up so I've been watching beauty tutorials on YouTube like a proper weirdo. But have learnt quite a lot so far. I find the British ones better.

I also need to lose a ton of weight. But am just aiming for around 2 stone so I don't feel horrific, but also don't make myself sick in the process.

My plan is to invest in a relatively high end foundation and concealer and hope that's enough. Trying to practice contouring. ...

@NotEvenTheKing welcome! I've been watching the videos as well, some are very helpful aren't they. Lisa Eldridge is good, she doesn't make them all look like drag queens.

I'm not too sure about contouring myself, I'll probably end up looking like this😂

Weight loss is hard. I want to lose another stone but I've lost my drive recently. How are you planning to do it?

I've never been one to draw my face on, but I've been giving it a go, and it's not so bad... maybe?!

I've not seen that one, will give her a search.

I'm just trying to eat less food and get more exercise in, but it's hard with a sleep dodging toddler! What things have you done to lose weight?

@NotEvenTheKing I've been doing SlimmingWorld since September and I had lost about 18lbs but I put 3lb back on Over Xmas and just can't shift it since! Keep losing and putting on the same amount!

I have been going swimming twice a week and trying to walk more. I'm not really a gym or classes person. What are you thinking of doing?

I have gently forced encouraged my fiancé to join me as it will do us both good.

@MissMogwai

I walk a lot, try and do yoga everyday (have failed a bit on that lately due to the toddler not going to bed) and try to get on my exercise bike a few times a week (also failing at that due to said toddler) My main problem is that I love all things bad for me so have been being quite strict for the last week as I really need to get my arse in gear. Lost around 3lbs last week so hopefully can carry that on.

Maybe you need to change it up a bit if you aren't seeing any changes lately?

When is your wedding?

I'm in, getting married end of June. my skin is generally quite clear but has changed in the last year or so from being oily to actually being really dry now. So I'm making sure I exfoliate once a week, and moisturise twice daily. I'm also using a pink clay mask once a week and a hydrating mask once a week to try and soften my skin and get rid of any impurities. My hair is also very dry, partly because that's how it is (thick and course, curly) but partly due to having blayage with bleach last summer! so going to the hair dressers and ask if I can go back to my natural colour and have an olaplex treatment. I love doing my own make up, but I've never had it done before so I'm having both hair and make up done. The make up artist is a good friend though so she is doing it as a wedding present to me

I did my first ever face mask last night. Literally the first time ever. It was very weird. But I must say, my face feels so soft now. Is once a week a normal amount to do that sort of thing?

@Charlottejade89 welcome! Sounds like you're on it with your regime. which mask are you using?

@NotEvenTheKing I think once a week for a mask is perfect. Which one did you use?

I've upped my water intake and feel much better for it. I've been trying with the diet so hopefully see results at weigh in tomorrow🤞🏻

@MissMogwai it was a black one. Not sure of the brand, but one you peel off (not charcoal...) have a couple other ones, so will do another one on Monday.

How did you get on with your weigh in? I've been drinking loads too. Sometimes it's easy, other times I do need to force it!

Can I join!

Getting married in just a few weeks now !

Real low key registry office here too and then off to the pub.

I’ve recently sorted out my brows with a lovely local lady, only plucked and tinted but wanted a trial run on how I’d feel about them and I LOVE them. I’m rubbish at doing my own brows which are naturally very fair.

Same lady has also gel polished my nails, I’m due to go back in a couple of weeks where hopefully my nails underneath will have grown to enable me to have a lovely French manicure. She positively gasped when I told her I had thought about stick on nails

Hair - I’ve just bought a wand! LOVE it! Makes curling hair so much easier! I’ve been watching YouTube tutorials on hair curling! I do want more beachy waves which I’ve achieved by practising with the wand.

Make up - got to do it myself, groan. We have an early wedding (double groan) so I’ll be up and at it early. I’ve just found a wonderful product though for applying foundation. It’s called a Kabuki brush, wow, so much better than a make up sponge! I need to invest in a good setting powder though, one that doesn’t make me look like a cake! Any suggestions?

Eyelashes - this I could do with some help with. I’ve trailed the natural fake ones, the ones you use glue with and I have to say I quite like the look, makes my eyes look so much bigger. After about 30 mins I forgot I was wearing them. What are you all doing eyelash wise?

Things I still need to get are a lovely sparkly ivory wedding bag of some sort and a cover up, I’ve not seen anything I really like be it boleros, shawls, etc, there are some awful cover ups out there. The fake fur ones look awful on me, although they do look stunning on others, just not for me. This won’t be for the ceremony itself, I’m baring arms hopefully I’ll cope if it’s awful weather.

Apart from that I ‘think’ I’m almost ready.