WEDDING BELLES
THREE STYLISH BRIDES TALK TO GILLIAN DAVIES ABOUT THEIR BIG-DAY BEAUTY SECRETS
Beauty advice for your big day
Perfectly fashioned
Super organised and with an eye for detail, Red’s fashion director Oonagh Brennan loved every second of her wedding planning.
Iwanted my wedding to look and feel like a Victorian Christmas postcard, with roaring fires, twinkly lights and mulled wine. We got married in winter in a 12th-century abbey, which fitted perfectly with the magical theme we were trying to create. From about 10 months before the day, I focused on healthy eating and working out.
Alongside my regular yoga, I started doing Jillian Michaels’s HIIT exercises on Youtube. My wedding dress was sleeveless, so I wanted to do a lot of arm toning!
Looking after my skin has always been important to me.
I’ve used Steamcream for years and my skin loves it. Out of all the moisturisers I’ve tried, it’s the best for hydrating and plumping. I also treated myself to a course of facials with Sarah Chapman and used her Skinesis 3D Moisture Infusion Masks in the days leading up to the wedding.
It was important that I looked like me, but an elevated version. I knew I wanted to do my own make-up (I get stressed when other people do it!), but I did have a lesson with
celebrity make-up artist Ruby Hammer to learn some of her professional tips. I’d originally planned to do an eyeliner flick, but Ruby advised me against it as it can be fiddly and hard to perfect. Instead, we went for a tight line along my upper lash line. I now wear it like this most days.
‘Blend, blend, blend’ was my bridal beauty mantra.
Ruby introduced me to Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick and oh, my goodness, I love it so much. I applied a tiny amount to a short, dense brush and really blended it in for a ‘second skin’ finish.
While I was having my hair done I wore under-eye patches and applied a thick layer of lip balm. I used Charlotte Tilbury Lip Liner and Lipstick in Pillow Talk, which gave my
lips a subtle tint without being hard to maintain throughout the day. A subtle pink manicure and pedicure complemented the blush pink colour of my dress and also meant that any chips wouldn’t be as obvious.
My wedding scent was Chanel Cristalle.
I’ve worn it since I was 15 years old, and it takes me straight back to our special day whenever I smell it now.
We escaped for a mini-moon to The Pig in Kent, then went to the Maldives in January.
I’m very strict about applying SPF, and in the Maldives, I applied Institut Esthederm Sun Care Oil every morning before breakfast, massaging it in before I got dressed so that I could cover every part of my body rather than trying to apply it around my bikini.
to move the location from an outdoor terrace overlooking the vineyards to a small chapel on the estate we’d hired.
I’ve worked with my glam squad for more than 10 years. I sent Jane Bradley, my make-up artist, a mood board of looks I loved with lots of peachy and bronze colours, and we then picked out our favourite details. I don’t like heavy or contoured make-up, so we decided on a fresh, natural finish with lots of sheer, cream-based formulas from my go-to brands, such as Bobbi Brown, Stila and Lily Lolo.
Having three dresses meant having three different hairstyles. For the ceremony, my hair stylist, Ben Cooke, created a loose, low bun, fixing in delicate handmade chiffon flowers from Jennifer Behr, which we swapped for a crystal headband for the reception. At the party, we undid the bun and pinned pearl clips into my curls.
As I’ve got older, I’ve learned to embrace my curls.
My mum is a herbalist and gave me an Ayurvedic oil blend, which I use when my hair is dry, to keep the curls looking bouncy and hydrated. In the run-up to the wedding, I upped my usage of Olaplex products to stop the colour from fading in the sun.
When it comes to beauty, I’m very low maintenance and prefer natural products. I use Kora Organics Noni Glow Face Oil on my face, and coconut oil as body moisturiser. I never normally have facials, but before the wedding I did try a PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) treatment, which involves having some of your blood’s platelets injected into your skin. It’s supposed to make you look fresher and I did think I had more of a glow afterwards.
My maid of honour tied crystals into my bouquet.
I had rose quartz for love and blue quartz for trust. I also had my grandmother’s pearls woven in, so it felt as if she was with me all day. I’m planning on having my dress preserved (packaged in an airtight box) to be passed on as a family heirloom.