As I’m sure everyone knows I am an official make-up junkie.

I love the stuff and wear several products every day – including liquid liner and a good few coats of mascara.

I’m accutely aware however that there are many lovely brides out there who actually don’t wear a lot of make-up, pursue the ultimate natural “look” and the thought of having to potentially pile on the slap just because it’s their wedding day fills them with dread.

Believe me I’ve met a few – the poor pets have literally melted under the make-up artist/sales consultant “You should wear this, this and this!!!!” spell – always with regret and on one occasion a complete refusal to admire her W-day photo’s so “overdone” was her maquillage.

Well we don’t ever want you to feel like that lovelies….

There is no need to change ANYTHING about your look for the Big Day if you don’t want to.

So for all you au natural ladies out there RMW have selected a range of ( what we consider) the perfect “Are they/aren’t they?” cosmetics that will just make you a slightly glossier version of your already gorgeous self.

Naked Ambition

Brows: As everyone knows they frame the face and a neat and tidy groomed pair can make you look instantly polished. MAC Brow Set is nothing short of genius, a tinted gel that fills in the patchy gaps and makes wayward strays stay put. Comes in clear and shades for blondes and brunettes.

Skin: Love the skin you’re in? Don’t feel the need to wear foundation but fancy a bit of flawless? Then Laura Mercier tinted Moisturiser is for you. Sheer, undetectable and comes in a vast array of face friendly shades. This product wins prestigious beauty awards left right and centre ( it’s that great) and is now available in a rich version for dry complexions and oil free for “say no to shine” types.

Cover: Aptly named “Nude” this new concealer from Christian Dior is sublime. Dot onto dark shadows and pat in gently for seamless coverage and/or around the sides of the nose to mask redness. I also used this on my somewhat tomato-like wind chapped cheeks last week and you couldn’t tell I had anything on at all.

Brilliant.

Get Your Glow On

Finish: I have tried a zillion million loose powders ( ok slight exaggeration but a fair few)…and I ALWAYS go back to this Chanel beauty. I wear it on its own in the summer with concealer – It does somehow make your skin more even without the need for foundation. I use shade 50 “Peche” as it gives a “Lit from within” glow.

Oh and a tub lasts FOREVER.

Lips: I can’t recommend one gloss – that would be ridiculous as there are so many great shades out there. Am a big fan of the NARS lip gloss pots though and “Chelsea Girls” is a particularly sexy pout enhancing hue.

And its not too goopy.

Cheek: A recent discovery and another gem from Madam Mercier, cream blush in “Oleander” – the perfect suits all “just went for a brisk walk in the park” blush. Blends like a dream and has pretty good staying powder for a cream formulation.

So then folks…. what natural products float your make-up boat – sticking to your much loved favourites for W-day or trying something new?

I did a bit of both to be truthful, invested in a few new pretty pieces but didn’t stray too much from looking like “me”.

Big Naked Love

Charlotte xxx

While Charlotte is the undisputed makeup guru around here I happen to have a few tricks up my sleeve for some bridal beauty buffing pre-wedding day.

Often the first thing brides think of in terms of a beauty regime is skincare, by which I mean facials, a good cleansing regime and moisturisers that perfect all your hard work. But with gowns getting ever more inventive and an often sun soaked honeymoon hot on the big day’s heels, what of the body beautiful?

There are pleanty of beauty treatments designed to tighten, tone and make your skin shine but with so many different aspects of planning to stretch the budget, this is one area you can save a few pennies and still get skin sexy with some home skin priming for perfection.

I Aint no Scrubber!

I’ve long been a devotee of the body scrub and it’s ability to turn the roughest backside into silky smooth skin. Not all scrubs are equal however so here are my personal favourite which I guarantee will slough off any undesirable bumps and leave you with a bottom as smooth as a babys.

First up, my absolute favourite Sanctuary Salt Scrub. In a gloopy oil based liquid this salt scrub smells absolutely heavenly and is rough enough to smooth your skin to perfection, yet the oil base stays on the skin meaning you can skip on moisturiser and skip out of the door in no time! Probably not the best for oily skin, it’s never-the-less a life saver for dry winter damaged hides.

Like your skincare natural? Then it doesn’t get better than this… Buffy the Backside Slayer from Lush. Nothing to do with vampires, this scrub bar was inspired by the beautiful Brazilian women who rub a mixture of sand and suntan oil on their bodies to improve circulation and reduce cellulite. Mixed with cocoa and shea butters (to soften and moisturize), ground rice, almonds and aduki beans (to exfoliate you to velvety perfection,) voila, Buffy was created! This is another super moisturiser too, perfect for dry skin.

Fancy a scent-sational treat? Origins Incredible Spreadable Ginger scrub has a fabulous Ginger boost to revitalise your senses yet with warming properties to cosset you as we move from Winter into Spring and you get ready to bare! Once again, a heavy duty scrub with good sized rough bits, a handful of this stuff will smooth your bumpy bits away and make you smile.

In your Arms

Nearly every woman I have ever spoken to gets those annoying little bumps on the top of their arms and I’m no exception. With a dose of sun the only sure fire way I knew of to get rid of them, but being sun safe here at Rock My Wedding that was no longer an option and I had to find a solution fast before Wedding day! Correctly named hyperkeratosis pilaris the condition improves with age and can be treated by your doctor with salicylic acid preparations. I preferred to go down the ‘extra time in the bathroom’ route and discovered a gem…

Exfoliating Gloves from Boots cost around £2-4 and used daily with your usual shower gel may just be the most effective thing I have ever stumbled upon to make your upper arms bump free again. The key here is being religious about it and using the glove EVERY day as it is a build up of keratin that causes the ‘plugs’ which must be kept at bay!

With all this buffing you’ll need to keep on top of your skins moisture levels and Lush Dream Cream is my top pick to do just that. With a distinctive smell of the ‘acquired taste’ variety, (Although I’m a complete addict now!) this body cream was developed to superbly moisturise and calm troubled skin. With a calming oat meal base it’s packed with every soothing plant the geniuses at Lush could find: tea tree, lavender and chamomile, moisturizing olive oil and loads more. It’s the only cream I have found that leaves my skin as soft at the end of the day as when I first applied it that morning.

And last of all, if you are a fan of layering your fragrance I’m also a convert to theGinger Souffle also by Origins. This luxurious cream really melts in and leaves your skin smelling all gingery, warm and zingy

Ahhhh, breath a sigh of relaxed relief. Lock yourself in the bathroom for some quality time, soak away the day, scrub yourself silly, then smooth things over and sleep like a baby.

You can thank me later

Yours Truly,

Rebecca
xoxo