17 Wedding Beauty Experts Reveal Their 'Can't Live Without It' Buys
Restock your beauty collection with our edit of expert-approved skincare and makeup buys, for your healthiest, most glowing skin for your wedding day
We all have our favourite beauty buys then we rely on and repurchase time and time again, but if you’re in the market to freshen up your beauty stash ahead of your wedding, with the view to achieving your best skin ever ahead of the big day, you’ve come to the right place.
We called upon wedding makeup artists for their recommendations for the best wedding beauty products to use ahead of, and on your wedding day. Get ready to add to basket - you're going to want all of these!
17 Wedding Beauty Buys the Experts Can't Live Without
1. The Body Shop Drops of Youth Liquid Peel - £16, The Body Shop
Professional makeup artist Lauren McCabe recommends the Drops of Youth Liquid Peel: “The perfect makeup starts with the skin and this is an absolute must have for my kit. Appropriate for all skin-types, it instantly dissolves and peels off dead skin cells and impurities which naturally accumulate on the skin whilst you sleep, leaving me with the fresh layer of skin beneath to layer my products onto.
“Skin texture is instantly smoothed providing a glowing, flawless base, avoiding any signs of ‘cakiness’. All my brides are completely wowed by this product, it really does make all the difference!”
READ MORE: The Definitive Pre-Wedding Skincare Regime
2. Laura Geller Spackle Primer in Champagne Glow - £42, QVC
“One product I use on everyone is Laura Geller’s Spackle Primer in Champagne Glow. It adds a subtle, dewy boost to the skin,” says wedding makeup artist Hayley De Beers.
“Some people prefer to wear it instead of a foundation or base, especially if they never wear makeup normally. It also makes your makeup last all day and night, and it’s cruelty free.”
3. Tarte Stay Spray - £26, Tarte Cosmetics
“At the end of makeup application, I always use Tarte Stay Spray. It’s super refreshing, settles any powder, and makes the makeup last and last, especially foundation and lips,” says Hayley.
3. Mac Blot Powder - £23.50, Look Fantastic
“My must-have beauty product for brides is a great setting powder, to keep your makeup in place. Mac Blot powder is a must for me,” explains wedding makeup artist Catherine Legg.
4. Chantecaille Vital Essence Serum - £100, Look Fantastic
“When a client has problematic skin or it starts to misbehave in the run up to a wedding, my saviour product is Chantecaille Vital Essence Serum. It’s beautiful! It sinks into the skin and deeply replenishes the skin giving it hydration, plumping up fine lines.
“It’s not oily and it calms breakouts and scarring. It also doubles up as an eye serum,” says wedding beauty pro Melissa Clare.
5. By Terry Baume De Rose - £36, Look Fantastic
“When it comes to lips, I love By Terry’s Baume De Rose,” Melissa reveals.
“It is the ultimate treat for dry lips. With crushed pearl pigment and rose wax it looks so good you could even wear it alone for your wedding day.”
6. Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray - £21.60, Look Fantastic
“I always recommend to any bride that they use a setting spray after they've finished their makeup, so that their whole face is waterproofed and will last the day,” says wedding makeup artist Juliet Cunnington.
“Decant your setting spray into a misting bottle for even coverage.”
READ MORE: The Best Setting Sprays for Your Wedding Makeup
7. Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Hydrating Primer - £34, Look Fantastic
“I recommend a really good primer such as Laura Mercier’s Pure Canvas Hydrating Primer. Good makeup always starts with a good base,” explains Susie Campbell, a wedding makeup artist.
“My best hack is to spray over your primer with a setting spray before applying your foundations as you want this makeup to last all day.”
READ MORE: The Best Primers for Your Wedding Makeup
8. Moroccanoil Restorative Hair Mask - £34.75, Look Fantastic
“To get your hair in the best condition possible, I recommend a weekly mask,” advises wedding hairstylist Suzanne Hale.
“For damaged hair in need of instant repair, Moroccanoil’s Restorative Hair Mask is a five to seven minute revitalising treatment that reconstructs hair and infuses protein back into strands that have been damaged by chemical treatments or heat styling.”
9. Laura Mercier Blush - £24, Look Fantastic
“It’s [Laura Mercier Blush] absolutely stunning and beautiful as part of a bridal look. It’s got so much luminosity to it, so it’s really pretty,” says beauty blogger Rose Gallagher.
10. Revolution Pro Restore Lip Set - £8, Look Fantastic
“One of my top pieces of advice in the run up to your wedding is to keep your lips as soft and chap free as possible - there’s nothing worse than dry flaky lips when you’re applying your favourite wedding day lipstick. This duo scrub and balm keeps the lips soft and kissable!” says Steph, of Features Hair and Makeup.
11. Urban Decay Perversion Waterproof Mascara - £18.40, Look Fantastic
“I would always recommend using a waterproof mascara on your wedding day, just in case of tears,” advises Victoria of Victoria Abbosh Makeup.
“I love Urban Decay Perversion Waterproof Mascara because it has a wearable formula that's lengthening, thickening and it will never ever smudge.”
12. Shiseido Blotting Papers - £20, Look Fantastic
“I'd invest in some blotting papers by Shiseido, they are so compact, super simple to use and take down shine with ease,” Victoria explains.
13. Delilah Under Wear Foundation Primer - £36, Look Fantastic
“I have recently discovered Delilah Cosmetics and am really impressed with the quality of their products which are cruelty and paraben-free, plus vegan friendly,” reveals Ieva of Ieva Genovesi Hair and Makeup.
“One of my favourite products from the collection is the Under Wear foundation primer. It perfectly prepares the skin for makeup, ensuring it applies more easily and lasts longer. It is a serum with a fresh and silky feel. It is enriched with peptides, therefore gives a plumped and smoothed appearance.”
READ MORE: The Best Vegan Beauty Products for Your Wedding Makeup
14. Sunday Riley Good Genes Glycolic Acid Treatment - £80, Cult Beauty
“The product I tell our community to invest in ahead of their wedding day is Sunday Riley Good Genes,” says Sophie Cullen, co-founder of the Bridal Beauty Company.
“Introduce this six months prior to the big day and hello gorgeous, glowing skin. Apply after cleansing, three to four times a week and your skin will thank-you later.
“This multi-tasking, under moisturiser treatment and mask helps brighten, refine, smooth and improve skin's elasticity. Featuring tiny glycolic acid molecules that sink deeply into skin, the formula breaks apart pore-clogging debris and minimises the appearance of congestion and fine lines.”
READ MORE: The Best Exfoliators for a Wedding Glow
15. Emma Hardie Plump & Glow Hydrating Mist - £33.60, Look Fantastic
“My favourite product to introduce into your beauty regime ahead of your wedding day has to be the Emma Hardie Plump & Glow Hydrating Mist. It’s the perfect pick-me up for thirsty skin, or if you’re just feeling a bit hot and flustered,” explains Arabella Dupont co-founder of the Bridal Beauty Company.
“With cooling watermint and aloe vera, plus a hefty dose of hydrating hyaluronic acid and tiny gold pigments, this adds a gorgeous glow and boosts the skin’s luminosity. It can easily be added to any existing skincare regime so you don’t need to overhaul every product and it smells amazing.
“Spritz over clean skin post-cleansing to 'seal in' precious moisture - then mist liberally throughout the big day to boost hydration and refresh your make on-the-go.”
16. Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter - £32, Charlotte Tilbury
“Place this [Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter] onto the high points of the face and watch it capture the light, giving you the most perfect glow to your base,” says wedding MUA Louise Jackson.
“I have been obsessed with this product for over five years now. It’s a firm favourite of mine in my makeup kit that I cannot live without! Beautiful for a mature skin, the formula is super hydrating, moisturising and glowing,” Makeup artist Amber Harlow agrees.
“It’s almost like an airbrush tinted moisturiser. It evens the skin with a little coverage and creates the most perfect glow that looks like you have been drenched in water! I love it, perfect for a client who doesn’t like the feel of too much makeup.”
17. Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Eye Base - £37, Bobbi Brown
“Every client needs an under eye cream; a little amount goes a long way,” explains Amber Harlow.
“For me, it’s all about hydration and this helps makeup to sit beautifully on the skin, so I highly recommend this eye cream for all skin types and all ages.”
Looking for more beauty essentials ahead of your big day? Here's our guide to the best wedding fake tans!
