Bridal Club Magazine

Hen’s Night Makeup hot tips for Summer!

Thank goodness winter is officially over and, with summer fast approaching, it's time to freshen things up! Both the dewy look and the bronzed beach look are coming back this season, and there are lots of ways to achieve these looks for your Hen's Night to give you that summer glow.

We have all loved the popular winter smoky eye. Don't panic - there are ways to embrace the smoky eye for the summer months, too. You can still achieve the sultry look of the smoky eye, but lighten it for the summer nights by choosing lighter colours. Move away from the black and charcoal, and try lighter shades such as purple, green or brown. To achieve this look, apply colour from the lash line to just above the crease, following the natural shape of your eyelid, and then sweep over the lower lash line. Be sure to blend well so there are no visible hard lines. Don't be afraid to mix colours together and experiment with different shades to find the one that suits you best.

Try green and silver for a fresh look, or brown and gold for a rich golden sultry eye. To give your eyes an instant 'pop', apply a small amount of a highlighting colour, such as crème or silver, to the inner corner of each eye, top and bottom. For the perfect summer smoky eye, we love Untamed Waterproof Shadow Liner Trio's in Exotic and Savage by Smashbox, perfect for the hot summer nights! To add to this look, bronzers are a fantastic way to give you a glow - but only use sparingly to contour or lightly dust down your T-Zone to give you a natural looking tan. Adding bronzer to a lip gloss, or lightly dusting over your eyelids, is another quick way to achieve a natural daytime summer look.

If this all sounds a little too daunting, a great idea for your Hen's Night is to have a pamper party and let the professionals give you a one-on-one makeup lesson before you hit the town. Have your makeup expertly applied whilst being given tips and tricks to enhance your individual features. You may also like to have your makeup trial the day of your Hen's Party. Or, if you don't want all your friends seeing it before the big day, then arrange a girly night with just your bridesmaids on the same day, and make the most of having your makeup done. This is also a great chance to discuss your Bridesmaids' makeup and what would best compliment your look.
There is nothing better to compliment beautiful makeup than an all over body tan, but we all know how bad sunbathing and sun beds are for us these days. One of the most popular alternatives is the spray tan. These can be great, however there are many that have gone horribly wrong. Whether you are doing it yourself, or having it done by a professional, always opt for a shade lighter that what you would like - it is easier to build up rather than scrub away! Make sure you exfoliate well a few times before having your spray tan. Daily moisturising leading up to the tanning will also prep the skin to prime condition, and increase the longevity of the tan post application. If you are applying it yourself, use a damp cloth to go over dry areas afterwards such as the knees, ankles and elbows, to avoid a build up of colour in these areas.

However, for a quick tan on the go, try a body bronzer.
Smashbox also stock a fantastic all over bronzer called Body Lights Glowing Lotion which dries in a few minutes, and won't rub off on clothes. This is fantastic for an all over instant tan, allowing you to build up slowly to your desired colour. Be sure to let the first application dry well before applying the next. It's a must-have in any girl's bathroom for those days when your legs aren't quite as tanned as you'd like.

This summer it's definitely all about keeping your makeup fresh, giving your skin a healthy glow, and having fun - enjoy!

Article written by: Nicki Collett Makeup Artist / Hair Stylist - Nicki Collett
Photographer - Russell Meek

♥ This article was kindly supplied by My Wedding New Zealand's Premier Wedding Magazine