Makeup Mysteries!

With Summer, the heat, festivals and endless day outs approaching,  I thought I’d give some tips and tricks to answer all of those makeup mysteries such as “do I really need to use a primer?” and “does the spf in my makeup really make a difference?”

Step 1 - Prime!

With the hotter weather in full swing (for the meanwhile), there is not a worse feeling than looking in the mirror after only two hours of applying your makeup and finding it has somehow turned patchy, discoloured or dried particular around the eye areas. This is most likely due to the lack or incorrect primer that you maybe using on your face before you apply your base. The number one tip I can give is to moisturise, this not only creates a base layer for your foundation to sit on so that it doesn’t seep into pores but what most people assume is that moisturiser and face oils will create more spots - this is totally wrong! Spots are created through the lack of moisture and oil and so the skin creates excess oil which then creates spots - yes it might be TMI but don’t be afraid of loathing on the moisturiser! In particular moisturisers with SPF are perfect for warmer weather as it doubles up as a sun protectant.

Once you have chosen the correct moisturiser for your skin, whether that be SPF free, oil free or for sensitive skin, you have the option to use a primer. Hence the name of the product, it will prime your skin and act as another layer before your foundation is applied. If you know that you are going to be taking a lot of photos with a flash on such as a wedding or prom, it is important that your moisturiser and primer has as low or if possible no SPF as this will create a white flash on your face when the photo is taken and none of us want that. There is not just face primers but eyelash primers and eyeshadow primers are also available at both ends of the makeup market, you can find plenty of drugstore options in Boots and Superdrug but likewise more expensive brands offer their own primers. Something to remember is that primer is not necessary to your everyday makeup but generally it will elongate your makeup wear and so if you are going to a special event I would highly recommend this step!

Step 2 - Base!

Just like your primer, it is so important to find a base that is right for your skin. If your skin is on the drier side and you want a glowy complexion, Nars Sheer Glow is a perfect foundation that will create that summer glow without looking oily or shiny. Likewise if your skin is naturally more oily, going for a matte foundation such as MAC Studio Fix Fluid will keep your makeup looking perfect all day and you can easily had a glow with a highlighter.

As I mentioned with the primer step, checking whether your foundation has SPF in it will save you from those photo nightmares as a foundation with an SPF in it will create a white flash on your face which will definitely defeat the point of taking an hour (or two!) creating your perfect makeup look!

An alternative to a heavy foundation which can sometimes be irritable in the warmer months, are BB creams or tinted moisturisers. These have the same concept of foundation but the results are much lighter and is the equivilant to ‘your skin but better’. I love wearing Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser for my everyday makeup as it is lightweight and has SPF 20. For younger skin or those who want a lighter finish, tinted moisturisers and BB creams are a great choice for weddings too!

Step 3 - Set It All In Place!

None of us wants to spend forever perfecting that contour or smokey eye look for it to smudge a few hours in and so the key to locking your makeup in is using a setting spray such as Urban Decay's line of setting sprays designed for different skins and purposes.

Most people forget to do this step but a trick that they might not know to lock that bold red lip in is…..

1. Apply your lipliner and lipstick in as normal

2. Hold a thin tissue against your lips

3. With a brush, tap it into your finishing powder and dust off the excess

4. Gently tap the brush on top of the tissue so that is covers all of your lips

5. Drink and eat to your heart's content knowing your lipstick will stay in place!

I hope these tips and tricks helped you!  

(all images sourced from Pinterest)

Marrying Abroad? 4 Top Tips To Remember

Marrying Abroad: 4 Top Tips to remember!

Getting married is an exciting time, which is why it is sometimes easy to forget the tiny details;

especially when marrying abroad! So here are some tips to make sure you don’t forget, giving

you time to focus on the fun parts of your special day like that delicious cake and that jaw-

dropping dress...

1. Visit First!

Lots of people have a dream destination for their perfect wedding day, however, it’s always a

good idea if your budget can allow you to visit the specific place you want your wedding to be in

advance. This will allow you to check out ceremony and reception venues first, as well as meet

suppliers, hairdressers and makeup stylists to give you peace of mind for your big day. Lots of

them allow you to do a trial before your wedding day too!

2.Climate

We all know marrying abroad is a beautiful way to spend your day, with picturesque backdrops

and beautiful weather, however, when marrying abroad, you should consider the climate in other

ways. For example, when choosing your wedding dress. Choosing dresses made of heavy or

thick materials such as satin may cause you discomfort if your destination is a warm country.

Lightweight materials such as chiffon could be perfect to keep you looking glamorous and keep

you cool at the same time. The same rule goes for your hair and makeup, avoid heavy products

and find anti-humidity makeup to help.

3. Important Documents

All of us would rather be focusing on the beautiful beaches or the sunny weather, but there are

lots of documents you will need when planning to marry abroad. These include; Birth

Certificates, Valid 10-year Passports, Affidavit/Statutory declarations, Confirmation of single

status (in case of previous divorce, Decree Absolute) and in some countries if you are of a

young age, parental consent (some destinations need you to be 21 and over without this). Also

check the length of time you have to be in the country before you are allowed to marry, as some

destinations require you to have a Visa. The best way to check is contacting the relevant

embassy with all your questions.

4.Vaccinations

It’s important to remember, for everyone traveling to your wedding, that some countries

recommend getting different vaccinations for your own safety. The further away and the more

tropical, the more likely you are to need boosters or new vaccinations. Common vaccinations

include Cholera, Typhoid and Hepatitis A. Most common vaccinations are available free of

charge from the NHS, but be sure to check which are needed for your chosen destination by

visiting your GP, or use the helpful information displayed on the NHS website.

To help plan your wedding abroad, get in contact with the Serenity London Events team today! events@serenitylondon.co.uk 

Wedding Rehearsals Top Tips!

As Wedding Season is now upon us! We wonder how many of you have Wedding Rehearsals booked in?

Many may think what is required from your bridal and Groomsmen parties is pretty straight forward however you would be surprised with the little things you would be whispering on the day to get everyone on the same page.

So I thought I would put together a check list of things to cover and key elements to have during rehearsals:

1.       The key things to rehearse are; The Entrances to the Church, The Entrances to the Venue, Where everyone is sitting and Everyone’s jobs on the day if they have any.

2.       Have all music ready in order that they will play on the day

3.       Speak through the ceremony headings. Take a look at the ceremony draft and read through the headings aloud, so everyone knows roughly the order of the ceremony.

4.       When practising the church entrance be sure to cover all details such as step speed and end positions. Many people always end up walking to the inner spots rather than outer.

5.       For the venue entrance it is vital you go over the path with your party, it becomes daunting as the hit the stage therefore common sense may not be so common in that moment

6.       Ensure the music for the entrances has a little extra time as there may be some delays on the day and you would not want the music stopping before all your party is out.

7.       Allocate the last couple entering the church and hall to count everyone in.

8.       Run though the jobs of each person on the day, we highly encourage this as come 9am wedding day morning you the Bride and Groom will be thinking of everything else besides the small details that need to be done.

9.       If you can Brides practice a toilet run with your selected people in your dress. This may sound funny to some of you however with no run through on the day it could become a panic!

10.   Finally encourage questions from everyone! This way there are no questions on the day that you may find stressful to answer.

When booking a wedding with Serenity London Events there is not an element of your wedding we do not think about and cover. We pride ourselves on constantly thinking how to execute perfection.

Our books for 2018 & 19 are now open. 
We offer the full Wedding Planning service however we are also available for just décor enquires. 
Keep an eye out for the new Weddings page launching on our website in June!