Your Bridal Trial - What can I Expect & How Do I Prepare?

Bridal Trial

WHAT CAN I EXPECT & HOW DO I PREPARE?

So…it’s six months or so before your wedding day and you’ve just had an invitation from me to book in for your bridal trial. It’s a new experience for most brides so often you have questions about what it will be like and how can you best prepare for it?

When’s the best time to have your bridal trial?

I always advise that the ideal time to hold your trial is 3-4 months before your wedding day so you should somewhere around 12-16 weeks ahead of the big day.There are a few reasons for this.

Firstly, there are SO many style decisions to be made around your wedding: your dress, the bridesmaids dresses, colour themes, flowers. All of these details can influence how we approach your bridal makeup. So waiting until all of those other details are in place as well as having a clear idea of the overall ‘feel’ of the day is really important so that your makeup styling is a perfect fit.

WHERE WILL MY BRIDAL TRIAL TAKE PLACE?

I hold all trials at my home studio in Great Witley, WR6. It’s a really lovely, bright and calm space with plenty of room for you to bring someone along for a second opinion!

HOW LONG WILL MY BRIDAL TRIAL TAKE?

I allow two hours for a bridal trial. It’s our first meeting so I really don’t want to rush it. We have lots of time to chat about the big day and it’s a time we can really get to know each other. We create your look with you sat in front of a big mirror so you can see every stage of the makeup and how it all comes together. Sometimes a look needs a bit of tweaking to feel ‘right’, sometimes we nail every element straight away. Allowing plenty of time to be sure that you leave feeling flawlessly you is key.

How do you decide on the makeup look?

I see the creation of your bridal look as a collaborative process. I tailor every makeup to suit your own personal style. That’s impossible to do without you being involved in the process.

Inspiration images are useful, of course and anything you can show me helps to piece together your style and taste (see my earlier blog for more ideas on where to find your inspiration images). But equally useful is for you to think about how makeup has made you feel in the past and how you want it to make you feel on the day. Do you want to feel romantic, elegant, polished, bohemian, natural…? Photos of you in makeup that has made you feel beautiful can be really helpful as well as your thoughts on makeup that has not made you feel your best.

We look at photos of your dress to establish the style of the makeup too - a more structured or unfussy gown lends itself to a more clean, polished makeup; a floaty, frothy number can make us head in a softer, more romantic direction. I’m guided by the colours of the bridesmaids dresses, the style and colours of the flowers in choosing your makeup tones. We even consider whether you’re being married in a church, or outside, in the morning or in the evening - the light can have a bearing on the makeup we choose too.

how should i prepare in the run up?

Firstly, get on top of your skincare months before the trial if you can. Good skincare is the first step to great makeup. And makeup looks and lasts better on a well-cared for, nourished, healthy skin. A series of facials is great if the budget allows (I rate the Hydrafacial) but you’ll see incredible results from the right consistent routine. (I have a blog post on bridal prep skincare here)

If you’re planning on having any treatments before the wedding day - brows, lashes, facial waxing, tan - have a test run ready for the trial. They can make a huge difference to the overall look so it’s important for you to get a true idea of everything as it will look on the day itself.

is there anything special i should do on the day of the trial?

You can come makeup free to save cleansing time if you like but also feel free to come wearing your ‘usual’ face of makeup (although avoid waterproof mascara if you can - five minutes of scrubbing with eye makeup remover is not the nicest way to start your trial!).

Wearing a top in a similar colour to your dress really helps to envisage how the makeup will look. And wearing a similar neckline ideally too (but if that’s not feasible, something with your neck and chest exposed is essential for true skin tone foundation matching).

If you’re thinking your hair will be up on the day, wear it up at the trial. And bringing along any accessories you plan to wear so you can see the whole look is really helpful too. We’ll take lots of photos for you to see how it all looks on camera.

HOW Long should i leave the makeup on for?

The trial is as much about checking how the makeup lasts as it is about designing the look. I want us to be sure you don’t have any reactions to products, that everything will sit on your skin comfortably for the whole wedding day and will look as good at the end of the night as it did when you walked down the aisle (with minimal touchups). If any issues come up from the trial then we can make a few changes or tweaks to improve things on the Big Day.

So please try and leave the makeup on for as long as possible. Even if that means your other half getting a sneak peek. Take lots of photos of yourself in different lighting and make a note of anything that doesn’t last as we would expect.

take Me out

Lastly, let’s give the makeup a good test and make sure you plan a lunch or a night out after the trial rather than an evening at home on the sofa! You can’t let that flawless face go to waste!

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

La RochePosay Hyalu B5 Serum

Medik8 Hydra8 B5 & C Tetra Serums

Vichy Mineral 89 Serum

Murad Vita-C Glycolic Serum

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

Tatcha The Silk Screen

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

Medik8 Advanced Night Eye

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).

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Updated 7th August 2025