How to Get that Bridal Glow...
“As if you were on fire from within. The moon lives in the lining of your skin.”
Pablo Neruda
When we picture a bride on her wedding day, most of us envisage a naturally radiant, perfected skin that isn’t layered in makeup. “You’re glowing” people say and it’s not about highlighter - it’s about love and happiness radiating out of you. That and beautiful skin. The truth is that makeup sits, lasts and looks better on well-cared for skin. That means skin that is nourished, hydrated, free from flaky patches. Skin that is dry, congested or unbalanced is not a good canvas for makeup.
There are lots of things you can do to ensure your skin is at it’s very best for your wedding day: Eat healthily, avoiding refined sugar (the main culprit for breakouts) and incorporating lots of fruit and veg; drink lots of water every day; take a vitamin C supplement (Vit C stimulates collagen production which is essential for skin, hair and nails). On top of this inside-out approach, it’s definitely worth upping your skin care routine in the months before the big day. Here are some things you should be introducing if you aren’t taking these steps already...
Assess your skin type and issues. Really get to know your skin. I’m constantly amazed at how many people will answer ‘I don’t know’ to the question of whether their skin is dry or oily! If you get shiny throughout the day, then your skin type is not dry. If that oiliness is mostly in the forehead, nose and chin are (the t-zone), but your cheeks and ather areas are more normal-dry; you have a combination skin. If the shine covers the cheeks too, then you truly have an oily complexion. Equally, if your skin feels tight even after moisturising, or you have flakiness and dry patches then your skin is dry. None of the above and lucky you have a normal skin type!
Make sure you are cleansing and moisturising TWICE a day. Every day…
Choose a cleanser that doesn’t leave your skin feeling tight, even if you’re prone to oiliness. Non-foaming gel or light cream textured cleansers are perfect for a morning cleanse with a cream, oil or balm cleanser for evening (always removed with a warm flannel or muslin cloth) and to remove makeup. If you have been wearing SPF or makeup then I recommend double cleansing here too - the first removes makeup, the second deep-cleanses the skin itself.
If you aren’t already using an eye cream, now is a good time to start. It doesn’t have to be full of exciting active ingredients - its main purpose is to hydrate. Choose one that has a texture you will enjoy using and that works for your skin type - light, gel textures for those prone to oiliness and richer textures for those with drier skin.
Almost every one I have in my chair shows some signs of skin dehydration. I would urge you to add in a hydrating serum containing hyaluronic acid and/or Vitamin C if you don’t use one already. Hyaluronic Acid’s key skincare attribute is that it can hold over 1,000 times it’s weight in water, making it an excellent hydrator and able to plump out fine lines and Vitamin C is the best skin brightening ingredient around. Apply your serum to clean skin BEFORE your moisturiser.
Choose a moisturiser to address your skin type - light and oil free for oilier complexions, rich and creamy for drier skin types. Most days, my serums give my skin enough hydration combined with my SPF that I can skip this step and go straight to my sun protection but some mornings and some skins will need an extra layer of hydration in the morning and always every evening.
APPLY SPF EVERYDAY!! Yep - everyday. Even in the UK. It is the single most effective step against ageing you can take. This should be your last step in the morning before applying your makeup. You may feel it is moisturising enough to follow directly from your serums and you can skip the moisturiser step. But NEVER EVER skip the SPF!!
ADDITIONS:
Get yourself a liquid exfoliating toner. Begin by using twice a week in the evening after cleansing, increasing use to every other day or even daily as you build up your tolerance to the acids in the ingredients. Once you are confident of no irritation this can be moved to your morning routine if you prefer to make the most of the immediate glow. These products are brilliant at removing dry, flaky skin, keeping spots at bay, reducing blackheads and pore size, refining the skin texture as well as brightening any uneven skin tone. Salycilic acid is great for enlarged pores and breakouts, Lactic and Mandelic for pigmentation and brightening, Glycolic a good all rounder (though some very sensitive skins struggle to tolerate it).
Consider using a facial oil at night time in place of or on top of your usual moisturiser. Oils penetrate the skin to work at a deeper level and are wonderful for dehydrated skin and even for rebalancing oily or congested skin. In my experience, nothing transforms skin faster than the right facial oil.
Have a quality face mask session once or twice a week. And if you can stretch the budget to include a series of professional facials in the run up - even better. A good facialist will give you a tailored skincare prescription to get your skin in the best possible condition for your big day.
Your DAYTIME ROUTINE should run as follows:
Light cleanse, Eye Cream, Vitamin C or Hyaluronic Acid serum, Moisturiser, SPF
Your EVENING ROUTINE should go like this:
Double Cleanse, Exfoliating Toner, Eye Cream, Serum or Facial Oil (followed by a blanket of your moisturiser if you need an extra layer of hydration).
There are so many fantastic products available from super affordable brands like The Ordinary, all the way up to very expensive brands. I can’t claim to have tried EVERYTHING but out of the products I have used I rate the following very highly. Most are mid-price range and all are GORGEOUS!
Cleansers:
Morning/ Second Cleanse:
Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cleanser
Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel
Laneige Water Bank Gentle Gel Cleanser
Pixi Glow Mud Cleanser (excellent for more congested types)
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Pore Perfecting Cleansing Gel
Any of the Cerave Line of cleansers - a great budget friendly option
Evening/ First Cleanse:
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Cleansing Balm
Drunk Elephant Slaai Makeup Melting Butter Cleanser
Bioderma Sensible Micellar Cleansing Oil
Caudalie Makeup Removing Cleansing Oil
Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm (good for first and second cleanse)
Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm
The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm
Serums:
Merit Great Skin Instant Glow Serum - I use this on most clients to prep the skin. And it’s on my bathroom sink too as my ‘topper’ serum over a more active Vitamin C or Antioxidant One. Gorgeous, silky skin, perfectly prepped for makeup awaits!
BioEffect EGF Serum - when you’re happy to blow the budget, this one is an incredible all rounder. Adds moisture, elasticity, improves firmness and fine lines. Actually worth the extortionate price tag.
Caudalie Vinosource Thirst Quenching Serum
Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum
Medik8 Hydra8 B5 & C Tetra Serums
Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Vitamin C Serum
La Roche Posay Pure Vitamin C10 Serum
Moisturisers:
Tatcha Water Cream - oil free but full of hydration. My go to for oily/ combination skin.
Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream - my favourite for a normal/ drier skin. Does exactly what it says - gives plump, dewy, juicy skin.
Farmacy Honey Halo Ultra-Hydrating Ceramide Moisturiser - Great for dry or mature skins or I love this one myself in the colder months when everything feels a bit tight.
Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base - this is what I use on almost everyone on a wedding morning. The perfect base for makeup, it primes while it moisturises to give a smooth finish. Smells INCREDIBLE!
Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre - many a makeup artists prep moisturiser of choice. This is always in my kit
Facial SPF:
Coco & Eve Daily Water Gel SPF50
Paula’s Choice Resist Youth Extending SPF50 Daily Hydrating Fluid
UltraViolette Supreme Screen SPF50 Hydrating Skinscreen
La Roche Posay Anthelios UVAir
Exfoliating Toners:
Medik8 Press & Glow Toner (PHAs - gentle intro to acid toner. Great for radiance and texture refining with minimal irritation)
Pixi Glow Tonic (Glycolic only)
REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic (Lactic)
First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads (Lactic and Glycolic - for general clarity and refining)
Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel (the gold standard - 5 different acids - also available in an Extra Strong version for the hardcore amongst us!)
Alpha H Liquid Gold (Glycolic only - the original and still great)
Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant (Salycilic - for breakout prone, oily skin and enlarged pores)
Facial Oils:
Herbivore Orchid Youth Preserving Facial Oil
Herbivore Lapis Balancing Facial Oil
Caudalie VinActiv Overnight Detox Oil
Sunday Riley C.E.O Glow Vitamin C Oil
Sunday Riley Luna Facial Oil (contains retinol)
Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil
Eye Creams:
Biossance Squalane and peptide Eye Gel
Clinique all about eyes (available in light and rich versions)
Caudalie Resveratrol Lift Firming Eye Gel Cream
Caudalie Premier Cru The Eye Cream
Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with avocado
Kora Organics Noni Radiant Eye Oil
Emergency Blemish Treatment:
Kate Somerville Eradikate Blemish Treatment - THE most effective spot treatment I have ever used. i am never without a bottle. Apply it at the first sign of a pimple and it will either bring it to a head more quickly or stop it in its tracks. Speeds up the healing without any crustiness or scarring. It is magic. I really recommend any bride has this in her armoury.
Lip Treatment:
Laneige Lip Sleeping Masks - The absolute best balms on the market anywhere. Not just for bedtime. Keep one on your desk, in the car and by your bedside and use it all day long. This is what I use on every client in skin prep and is without fail the one product every client asks me about. Available in every flavour you can think of….
If you follow all of this advice as early as possible (although even as close as a month away from your wedding day is not too late) I promise you will see results. You will need less makeup, and you will look flawlessly lit from within. Wedding picture perfect x
(For up to 20% discount at LookFantastic enter discount code LFTFAMYLANEY at checkout).
(For 15% off your first spend over £25 at Cult Beauty use this link: https://share.cultbeauty.co.uk/x/9zGDbT
Updated 7th August 2025