So the nights are drawing in, the temperature has dropped and the sun doesn’t glow so warmly anymore – no doubt winter is upon us! But even though we are covered in woolly sweaters and maybe eating extra chocolate to cheer ourselves up, there is no reason our makeup shouldn’t look amazing, right? Right, says professional makeup and hair artist Camilla J Collins.
Summer bridal make up is all about bright colours, shimmers, and a light airy finish whereas winter takes on a more sultry feel. Smoky eyes are always a big hit for winter brides and they are particularly effective with our paler winter skin. I recommend Urban Decay eye shadows which are perfect for this, with their high pigments, longevity on the skin and ease to blend. The new Naked2 Palette they brought out earlier this year is perfect for creating smoky eyes that really stand out. It also contains a few matte colours if you want to tone down any shimmer or perhaps leave it out completely. This palette is a great addition to anyone’s make up kit!
Image courtesy of Urban Decay
As the weather gets colder, we are cranking up the heating and it is causing absolute havoc with our skin. Make sure you drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated, use moisturiser frequently, and if you haven’t already, now is the time to adopt a night cream routine in addition to your day cream. I find the tee tree oil to be an amazingly effective method of keeping spots and pimples at bay, and keep applying that Vaseline to stop chapped lips!
To protect your skin further from the harsh weather conditions and constant change in temperature, you may want to consider the highly recommended Benefit’s POREfessional primer under any base. It reduces the appearance of pores and fine lines too as it promises, so double bonus!
Images courtesy of, from left: Amorous and Diva Lipsticks by MAC| POREfessional by Benefit | Touche Éclat by Yves Saint Laurent
Touche Éclat is one of the best and absolute favourite products, and I would shout about it from every rooftop if I could! I use it on all my brides and it’s perfect for all year round. Use it to highlight the cheekbones to temple, nasal groves and chin. It gives such a youthful appearance and thanks to its fantastic light reflectors, it has you looking radiant! And now, the clever people at Yves Saint Laurent have brought it out in a range of colours for every skin tone which I am just thrilled about! My favourite shade for paler skins and slightly darker alike is 1.5 which has yellow undertones.
As for lips, I find it depends on the bride’s preference of what they are used to wearing. With smoky eyes you can leave the lips nude, or use a pale gloss to really keep the eye as a focus point, or alternatively use a deep purple or bright red colour to add a touch of glamour. Amorous and Diva lipsticks by MAC are two lovely shades for the winter.
You don’t have to let the winter weather get you down – enjoy experimenting with a new look for the season to make you look your very best!
Camilla J Collins is a professional make up artist and hair stylist covering London and its surrounding areas. She offers a make up and hair design service for weddings, special occasions, fashion and editorial as well as to the TV and Film Industries.
Find more inspiration for your wedding hair in Confetti Health and Beauty.
Read all our articles discussing autumn wedding ideas.
