Most bride’s think about crossing big decisions like finding the perfect venue or dream dress off their bridal to-do list months in advance. But what about your beauty routine? While many bride’s may only associate wedding day beauty with makeup, it’s never too soon to start thinking about self-care.
We chatted with Pamale Colledge of Pamela Rose Beauty about bridal beauty prep and common mistakes to avoid for your big day!
Photo Credit // Blue Spark Photography
Q: How did you get started as a makeup artist?
Growing up, my grandfather, impressionist painter Herman Rose, taught me about art, color, shape and light. Later, I discovered editorial magazine spreads and the artistry in makeup. I quickly became that friend who does everyone's makeup. Ever the Virgo, I always knew I was destined to help people, so I became a Social Worker. After I had my daughter, followed by my son just 19 months later, I decided to return to makeup as my medium to bring beauty and confidence back into women's daily lives.
Q: Why is it so important to use organic beauty products and what are some of the biggest misconceptions?
There's a lot of “green washing” in beauty as the cosmetic industry is largely unregulated. If a company wanted to put 'Organic, All Natural, Clean, Green, Vegan' on their packaging, they could (and do!) with little oversight. Our skin absorbs up to 70% of what we put on it, with most women averaging over 100 ingredients per day! Many ingredients in our personal care industry - everything from toothpaste and deodorant, to facial cleansers and foundation - are linked to hormone disruption, allergies, skin irritation, and cancer. The European Union has banned more than 1,300 ingredients in the formulas of personal care products but the United States has only partially banned 30. Isn't that nuts?! No one is looking out for us so we need to educate ourselves, read ingredient labels first and look out for each other. As a rule of thumb, the shorter the ingredient list, the better. Sites like EWG.org and the Think Dirty App are great resources for more information on safe ingredients and products.
Q: How would you suggest brides think about their skincare regiment in the ramp up to their wedding day?
6 months out // Find a facialist that you trust and ask their advice on specific products for your skin and lifestyle. Brooklyn Herborium is incredibly holistic and their facials are specifically tailored to your skin’s needs in order to support the skin in its quest to function at optimal vibrancy. Lara Kaiser at Shen Beauty in Brooklyn has a magic touch!
3 months out // Keep up with your skincare routine and make sure you're exfoliating regularly. This Overnight Resurfacing Peel from Beautycounter, used 2-3 times a week, completely changed my own skin. I highly recommend it!
1 month out // Schedule another facial, if you haven't done so already. Avoid testing out new products, especially if you have sensitive or reactive skin. Keep salt intake low and drink tons of water - this will help with feeling full of energy for those last minute planning details, too!
Q: What's the best beauty self-care you can do the week of your wedding?
Get in those ZZZZZs and don't touch your face, except when you're doing your skincare routine. Take time for yourself and breathe it all in. It'll fly by and before you know it, you'll be married with a teenage stepson and two little kids, starting a whole new career and juggling it all on very little sleep--wait, is that just me??!?
Photo Credit // She’s Just Jaclyn
Q: What's the biggest mistake you see brides make when it comes to their wedding day beauty?
Probably the biggest mistake some brides make is deciding to try something new or trendy. Now is not the time for winged eyeliner if you never wear that look. This is the time to stay true to you.
Q: How do you advise clients to decide on their wedding day look?
We look at photos of their wedding dress and venue, and discuss all the wedding details. We want their makeup to match the level of glamour of the day. The makeup for a casual daytime nuptials will look different than for a black tie wedding. It's really important to me that my clients are recognizable so I ask them to come to our trial with their normal amount of makeup. This way I know exactly what they mean when they say, "I want to look like me." Most importantly, I ask my brides how they want to feel on their wedding day. So many of us focus on the curve of our noses or the squint in our eyes but to those who love us most intimately, it's our souls they see when they look at us. I want to get the feeling of who my bride is and what truly makes her feel confident. That's where we really begin.
Q: What are some of your favorite or most versatile makeup products right now?
For me, it's all about cream products! I love a cream concealer like the Sappho New Paradigm Concealer that can be thinned down and used almost like foundation. A great multitasker cream blush is Beautycounter’s Color Pinch Cream Blusher. It’s a stick, which is so easy to use on cheeks, lips and eyes, and the shades compliment so many different skin tones. I'm thoroughly obsessed with the setting brush from Real Techniques and use it for just about everything. The Liquid Lash Extensions mascara from Thrive Causemetics is my favorite and stays all day.
Q: How have you seen the approach to wedding day makeup shift in recent years?
This past year, I saw so many brides wanting a more natural look; not covering up their freckles or wanting their natural blush to come through. It's so refreshing after years of brides basically wanting to be erased and then painted as an airbrushed model.
Q: Any predictions for 2020 wedding beauty trends?
I'm hoping that brides continue to feel confident in their own beauty, wanting a more natural approach. Glowing skin is so romantic to me! But I also think women will want something a bit edgy to pair with their look. I'm predicting more brides ask for things like a deep stained lip or a smokey eye. Still romantic but slightly out of the box.
Photo Credit // Katherine Marchand Weddings