Meghan Markle’s Wedding Prep: Sparkle Like Markle on your Wedding Day

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Meghan Markle’s Wedding Prep: Sparkle Like Markle on your Wedding Day

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1526228113201{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 32px !important;}”]Want to sparkle like Markle on your wedding day? It’s totally doable – if you’re willing to put the effort in. It will come as no great shock to hear that Meghan Markle’s wedding preparations are pretty intense (fit for a princess, no less!) but as we’ll soon find out, the results are almost certainly going to be worth it.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_cta h2=”Preparing for your Big Day?” h4=”Get in touch to book your bridal hair & makeup trial!” txt_align=”center” add_button=”bottom” btn_title=”Contact” btn_size=”lg” btn_align=”center” btn_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.weddingmakeupandhair.com%2Fcontact%2F|||”][/vc_cta][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1526229290417{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 32px !important;}”]Embed from Getty Images[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1526228237317{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 32px !important;}”]It’s the final countdown to the Big Day now and Meghan and Harry have both been busy ticking items off their ‘to-do’ list. From quitting drinking and getting fit to having facial massages and regular manicures, Meghan is undoubtedly going to look flawless as she walks down the aisle.

Aside from booking in for her bridal hair and makeup, rumoured to be with celebrity stylist Miguel Perez who is famous for his big, bouncy curls, there are plenty of other appointments Meghan is sticking to. Here are a handful of the most essential, that you might want to consider adding to your pre-wedding regime…[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1526228313132{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 32px !important;}”]

The Facials

Meghan opts for facials that go one step further than your average, for that winning wedding photo smile! Rather than purely focusing on the skin, these extra-special facials work on the muscles of the face by massaging inside the mouth to strengthen and tone. Going to a pro is always going to get the best results, but at £260 a session with ‘skin guru’ Nichola Joss, it doesn’t hurt to know how to DIY at home!

In an interview with Marie Claire, Nichola explained:

“If you have troublesome skin and you need some corrective work, like if you have acne or scarring, you need to start working on a routine at least four or five months before the big day, seeing your facialist every two weeks to get your skin in the best condition you can. You can eventually cut it down to every three weeks, but you should still be getting regular massages between those appointments.”

Follow Nichola’s ‘five minute fix’ guide for more a full DIY routine

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The Manicures

Perfect nails are a must on your wedding day – the last thing you want are scruffy hands for those ring close-ups.

Meghan gets regular manicures to keep her fingers looking their best, so naturally she has her manicurist booked to visit her the day before her wedding. My advice is that you do the same! If your hands and nails needs a little TLC, treat yourself to a series of manicures leading up to your wedding to get them into the best condition possible. If they’re not in bad shape, still book your wedding day nail appointment in advance so you know you’ve got that. Book it for the day before, if possible. Failing that, in the week running up.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1526228416490{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 32px !important;}”]

The Workout

Exercising before your wedding is not necessarily about losing weight or squeezing into a particular dress size – it’s also a fantastic stress buster for when all the planning gets on top of you and it can help to improve your posture for walking down the aisle.

Meghan Markle has purportedly been getting wedding fit using Heartcore Pilates, taught by her friend and pro instructor Heather Dorak, but she’s also been ensuring a healthy mind with her regular meditation. Apparently she attended a four-day initiation class with mindful coach Light Watkins and came away with her own, personal mantra to help ‘calm and centre’ her mind. Lovely![/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”3053″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1526229421192{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 32px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1526230114071{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 32px !important;}”]Pilates is a brilliant pre-wedding exercise as it will help you stand up straight and really look your best as you walk down the aisle. Here’s an easy posture improving pilates  exercise you can try, from Marguerite Ogle at VeryFitWell:

Posture and Alignment Exercise

  1. Begin standing. Stand with your feet and legs directly under your hips. Your legs and feet are parallel, and your knees are pointing forward, straight but not locked.​ Get details on good leg alignment.
  1. Balance Your Weight. Adjust your body so that your weight feels like it is falling directly through the middle of the foot. A good way to do this is to rock slightly forward and back on your feet, making the movement smaller and smaller until you feel your weight is balanced over the center of your foot.
  1. Activate your core muscles. Lightly pull your abdominal muscles in and up. As you do so you engage the pelvic floor muscles as well. You are going for a feeling of aliveness in the core. Just this move is usually enough to improve one’s posture significantly.
  2. Drop the tailbone. Activating the core will allow you to drop your tailbone down toward the floor. This is a neutral spine position, where the natural curves of the spine are present without tucking or hyper-extending(sway back) the pelvis. A popular image is that the pelvis is a bowl of water and you don’t want the water to spill out to the front or the back.
  3. Relax and open your chest. The chest is not caved in and not thrust out, just resting easily. There is a small point at the bottom of your sternum, and that, like the tail bone, should be pointing straight down.
  4. Shoulders down, broad back. Allow your chest to drop and open as your back expands. As this happens and you feel the support from your core, your shoulders drop away from your ears and your shoulder blades slide down your back. Cultivate a posture whereby your core is holding you up, not your shoulders!
  5. Ears reach for the sky. Your head and neck are completely supported by your core and easily float above your shoulders. Imagine that the tops of your ears are reaching for the sky. Your gaze is straight forward, with your throat open and chin resting naturally.

Review the lineup. If you were seen from the side your body part line up will look like this:

  • ankles
  • knees
  • hips
  • shoulders
  • ears

Marguerite suggests going through this posture checklist as many times as you can during the day and says “it is an especially good exercise to do once you are warmed up, or even after a workout when your awareness is heightened and core well engaged.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1526229655507{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 32px !important;}”]Embed from Getty Images[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1526228540698{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 32px !important;}”]

The Brows

Meghan Markle apparently goes for a brow shape called ‘The Audrey’ at Riley’s Mayfair salon, clearly, after the gorgeous Audrey Hepburn.

This style is allegedly designed to instantly lift the face with tinting, threading and tweezing will make all the difference to her overall look. The brows are so important as they are the frame of the face!

When getting your eyebrows done before your wedding day, make sure that you leave a few days before you’re actually walking down the aisle, just in case you get any irritation.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”3054″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1526229540066{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 32px !important;}”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1526228574780{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 32px !important;}”]

The Health-Kick

The Markle Sparkle secret weapon? Well, it’s been said that she has two, actually: Matcha tea and Manuka honey.

Both of these are packed with skin-clearing, health-boosting anti-oxidants making them the perfect health kick before your wedding day. You can eat/drink them both and wear them as a face mask too![/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”3055″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1526229729849{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 32px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1526228729119{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 32px !important;}”]Here’s how to make your own Matcha and Manuka honey face mask, with a wonderful recipe from Anna Marie Gianni:

Matcha Green Tea Mask

If you’d like to see what green tea can do for you when you put it on your skin, we have a simple way for you to try it.

First, start with a quality matcha green tea product. Matcha is a good option for skin care because it is naturally more potent than regular green tea.

Next, mix a tablespoon or two of your powder with one or more of the following ingredients, depending on what effects you’re looking for:

  • Few drops of lemongrass (for cleansing and purifying)
  • Tablespoon of rosewater and several drops lavender oil (to soothe sensitive skin and minimize the appearance of large pores)
  • A tablespoon of manuka honey and yogurt (for deep moisturization)
  • One egg (to absorb excess oil, tighten, and tone)
  • Water or aloe vera gel (for simple anti-aging effects)
  • One-half to one teaspoon coconut oil(to create smooth, soft, radiant skin)

You can always add a few drops water to any of the above to create your preferred consistency.

Apply the mixture to your face, and leave on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing and following with your favourite moisturiser.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1526230042073{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 32px !important;}”]

Bridal Prep

Whatever your bridal prep schedule before your wedding day, the most important thing is that you stay calm and happy! It’s so easy to get swept up in the organisation that you don’t leave enough ‘me time’. Meghan’s bridal prep largely focuses on her mental and physical wellbeing and this is what is going to give you that gorgeous glow more than anything else. Apart from some strategic highlighting and contouring, of course![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Bridal Inspiration: Oscars 2017 Red Carpet Hair & Makeup

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Bridal Inspiration: Oscars 2017 Red Carpet Hair & Makeup

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Emma Roberts

 

Classic Hollywood glamour still stands the test of time – this is one look that will never go out of fashion, both on the red carpet and walking down the aisle.

Emma Roberts demonstrated how to wear this elegant (yet supremely sexy and sassy!) look at this year’s Oscars, with that incredible hair colour that is set to be one of the hottest trends for this summer, for true Jessica Rabbit style.

An easy to wear style that would work beautifully with all sorts of bridal gowns, but if you’re going for that peachy rose gold colour, it is so important that you get the right makeup to match.

Emma’s red lipstick and subtly gilded eye-shadow looks totally fabulous, but if the shades were slightly off, this could have been a clashing disaster!

This is where hiring a professional hair and makeup artist for your big day becomes essential.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1489336646512{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 32px !important;}”]

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Halle Berry

 

Embrace your natural beauty! When it comes to looking absolutely gorgeous for your wedding day, the best thing you can do is to work with the natural shape and style of your hair, rather than fighting against it.

So many brides-to-be with big, beautiful curls are in such a hurry to reach for the straighteners, but as Halle Berry showed on The Oscars red carpet, natural (or an amped up version of it) is totally fab!

If you’re a curly haired bride, count yourself lucky and try out some styles that really shows off those locks. Think perfect, smooth spirals without a hint of frizz and masses of volume!

If you love the idea of going for a look like this one, there’s no need to go overboard with makeup as the hair is without a doubt going to be centre of attention! Halle’s light smoky eye is the ideal addition and one of the top bridal makeup looks for 2017.

Give your curls an extra dimension by getting some multi-tonal highlights added in ahead of the big day.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1489336666681{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 32px !important;}”]

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Scarlett Johansson

 

Many brides go on a mission to grow their hair as long as possible before their wedding day to achieve that dream style, but as Scarlett Johnasson proved at The Oscars, short hair is equally awesome!

Scarlett’s short crop is a surprisingly versatile cut and with a gentle curl and some added oomph at the roots, she’s gone from androgynous to distinctly feminine. This volume lift works particularly well with the visible root trend that we’re now seeing so much of.

The choice of shimmering gold eye-shadow and pink rose lipstick is all you need to create a fresh but undeniably glamorous overall look.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1489336852235{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 32px !important;}”]

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Sofia Carson

 

Sofia Carson has leant firmly away from a natural, relaxed look and instead, gone for a beautifully structured, sleek fishtail bun with flawless makeup. This is a wonderful look for more traditional brides opting for a really decadent wedding dress and venue.

The key to winning at a look like this is perfection is all areas – not a hair can afford to be out of place! High gloss and a perfectly straight parting is a must, as are meticulously groomed brows and well defined lips.

Sofia has chosen a stunning hair accessory to adorn this chic style, which would certainly work a treat for brides too. Top the whole thing off with a tumbling, cathedral veil flowing out of the bottom of the bun.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Bridal Inspiration: Grammys 2017 – The Best Hair & Makeup Looks

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1487240493523{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 32px !important;}”]Hot on the heels of my last blog post, which covered all the best bridal inspirations looks from this year’s Golden Globes, it’s now time to turn our attention to the Grammys and all the celeb’s show-stopping styles…[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1487238070520{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 32px !important;}”]

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Adele

 

Stealing the spotlight by swooping up a whopping 5 awards (and splitting one in half with that dedication to Queen Bey!), it’s just as well that Adele was looking as fabulous as she was at this year’s Grammys.

Since her transformation from her early days of style, Adele has really come into her own when it comes to fabulous hair and makeup on the red carpet.

We all know that Adele loves a bit of a retro vibe and she’s showed us how it’s done, yet again, with that striking cat-eye eye liner, strong brows and hair with just the right amount of volume.

For brides wanting to give a gentle nod to 1960s glamour and really steal the show as they walk down the aisle, this is the Grammys hair and makeup look for you![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1487238171565{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 32px !important;}”]

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Camila Cabello

 

The newly solo Camila Cabello wowed in Lavender on the red carpet and showed us that 70s inspired hair and makeup is still going strong in 2017.

There were quite a few celebs that opted for this lovely, loose, beachy wave hairstyle at this year’s Grammys, complete with an off-middle parting to really give the overall ‘I’m naturally this gorgeous’ look. The ‘undone’ appearance of this style is perfect for a Boho bride or a bride who is going for a slightly less formal look whilst still looking absolutely stunning.

Minimal makeup matches this style best, as demonstrated by Camila. Strong brows play a major role here again and eyes are kept simple with taupe, smokey makeup and nearly nude lips.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1487238210733{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 32px !important;}”]

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Rita Ora

 

For the more daring or ‘alternative’ brides out there, Rita Ora wears this year’s hot fashion trend of red-toned eye shadow. It’s hard to believe that this would work (we’ve spent so long blending our concealers in to try and get rid of any redness around the eyes!), but as you can see, it clearly does.

Admittedly, it’s perhaps not for the most traditional brides, but if you’re after something a little bit different that really makes you stand out from the crowd, this might be just what you’re after.

The orange tones in this dramatic eye shadow really makes Rita’s warm skin tone flash with radiance, but if you have cool skin tones this might not work so well for you.

Rita’s poker straight locks tied back into a simple, low pony showcases another red carpet trend that we’re bound the see a lot more of this year.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1487238238223{margin-top: 32px !important;margin-bottom: 32px !important;}”]

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Kristin Cavallari

 

Everyone’s talking about Kristin’s plunging neckline at the 2017 Grammys and her ‘perky boob’ comments, but I’m just loving her laid-back hair and makeup style, reminiscent of California beach bum gone red carpet!

Perfect for a summer bride and even just for daily wear – Kristin’s messy, flyaway pony is all the rage and might look a little too thrown together if it wasn’t paired with that bronzed, beach babe makeup and well defined eyes.

With such a show-stopping, brave gown, it would have been remiss to style Kristin’s hair and makeup into anything too showy so her stylist has got it just right![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]