There is one day when you really have to look your best. Your hubby-to-be thinks you are just wonderful as you are but you know you have to look your very best for your wedding day, not just for the lucky groom, family and friends – but for those once-in-a-lifetime wedding pictures too.

 This is one time when professional advice, guidance and, of course, great application skills are just what a girl needs.

So who better to turn to than Lorna Benbow, owner of the highly respected Quiescence Wellbeing beauty therapy consultancy serving Wiltshire and Berkshire? Lorna is the complete beautician who radiates a calm, skilled and expert approach to the sensitive matter of individual beauty – and she is especially experienced in creating that special loveliness which is as great through the lens as it is in the flesh.

Let’s start with the basics, I asked Lorna for her thoughts on the foundations for looking one’s best:

“Well,” says Lorna, “the real foundations start a lot earlier than make-up foundation; I believe that beauty starts as an inside job and the great confidence and pleasure that come from looking your very best starts with feeling great. That’s why, apart from body treatments and holistic treatments which I’ll come to in a moment, I really do recommend these simple practices – many of them start weeks before the wedding day itself:

·         Drink plenty of water every day – this helps keep your skin hydrated and is good for your system generally and particularly by removing toxins.

·         Cut down on sugar and sugary foods – not only might you get a bit more trim, you’ll also avoid the risk of spots and skin blemishes.

·         Take as much exercise as you can – again helps with body toning and certainly adds to that indefinable look of radiance, once you start it is calming too and releases those chemicals in your body which make you glitter with vitality.

·         Eat plenty of fruit and veg and avoid processed foods – this may sound obvious but food impurities can have a terrible effect on the skin

·         If you smoke try to smoke less – I’m certainly not suggesting adding quitting to your list of pre-wedding stresses but smoking really does promote wrinkles and lines.

·         If you drink alcohol please try to drink less – you know it’s true; baggy eyes, saggy skin and a loss of that vibrant look all come from too much alcohol – you can always make up for it afterwards!

·         Love a cup of coffee or six? Coffee acts as a diuretic, certainly it's an intake of liquid but has the effect of dehydrating. The more you drink the more dehydrated you become, having a detrimental effect on your skin.

·         A gentle tan can look great but the sun can and does harm your skin – I think the harsh effects of sun on your skin go without saying; fine lines and wrinkles.

All wise words and good common sense. Looking and feeling healthy is no doubt the best of starting points so let’s move on to the main event – just what can a beautician do for the Miss who is soon to be Mrs.?

“I believe a professional make-up should be where advice meets expertise, we never try to change anybody too radically but we are great at really enhancing what nature gave us and understanding the real skills and techniques that meet the demands of the camera – and the photographer too!” 

Go on then, what delights both the eye and the lens?

“Although a wedding day is quite theatrical we are not talking about stage make-up here, we create that wonderful natural, flawless and luminous look which shines through in every picture taken.

It is essential to start off with prepared and well moisturised skin, totally cleansed and exfoliated and please, please free from any self-tanning treatments! The use of the absolutely correct foundation is vital and its application is critical.”

Lorna, a lot has been written about foundations and shading – what are your views?

“Firstly, foundation is one product you just shouldn’t skimp on – we use only the very best products.  We test each face to ensure we are using the perfect foundation for the individual skin tone and type.

As for shading there are real dangers – the most obvious being those dreadful ‘tidemarks’ that an incorrectly blended application can show. Shading which defines and enhances shape and features comes from the deft use of colouring blushers.

The right foundation should match your skin tone, it should feel and look like a second skin and must be a natural effect.

The aim is for the look of a flawless skin, this may require the clever use of a little concealer before the foundation is applied and if all of this is done correctly your skin will look just about picture perfect.”

And talking of perfect for pictures, Lorna continues her artistic theme:

“Moving on to eyebrows – it is the eyebrows that frame the face. I usually use a powder rather than a pencil and will tint as required, that way I can create, again, that natural look and the right colour and density whilst also optimising my clients’ individual look and expressions. All of this is essential for photography as the eyebrows can say so much in a shot.”

It’s true, isn’t it, that the eyes are the window to the soul and for many people, the most fascinating part of the human face and certainly the very essence of excellence in photography?

“Absolutely,” replies Lorna, “we also spend a lot of time on eye make-up and eyelashes. Eye size, shape and colour, in concert with the expression of the eyebrows will determine how the eyes are made-up for maximum attractiveness. Sometimes we use up to three eye-shadow tones, light, medium and dark to accentuate the look.  Eyelashes are made-up with waterproof mascara.”

The last important part of make-up application is for the lips, what does Lorna have to say about this?

“For me it is a top quality long lasting lipstick applied once, then gently powdered over to accept a second application, I then use a lip-liner to provide definition and to prevent ‘bleeding’, the finish is always perfect and very durable, getting the colour just right is also very much part of the art of make-up for photography.”

The run up to wedding day is very daunting time for any for every bride-to-be, how does coming to you make this burden and stress any easier?

“My whole service is designed exactly to reduce stress and increase confidence, relaxed and easy, that’s our way. To begin with I always have an initial consultation in the comfort of the client’s home. This is very much a getting to know each other session and build a rapport and understanding. I need to know what each client is really looking for so we look at colours, particular ‘looks’ such as 60s or natural, seasonal or even themed.

 We’ll look at pictures of dresses, hairstyles, think about venues and discuss photography, natural light and use of flash.   We can discuss the bridesmaids and bride's Mother, as the bride is often concerned about their look and make-up too.  And YES, we do have a service for men!

“The bride and I will talk about pre-treatment, skin care, facials, exfoliation, and choices of concealing and foundation.”

Lorna, you mentioned earlier that you take an holistic view of beauty, can tell us more about this?

“Of course, I think our beauty is more than just looks, it is comes from wellbeing in mind, body and spirit, that’s why all my treatments use only pure products and essential oils. Many of my clients, including brides-to-be also take advantage of my services for:

·         Aromatherapy

·         Full body treatment

·         Hot stone

·         Detoxifying

·         Back and shoulder massage

·         Indian head massage

·         Thai foot massage

·         Reiki healing

·         Auricular Hopi hot candle therapy

In the hectic run up to a wedding I always find that these relaxing and wellbeing techniques can help no end – and talking about being relaxed I also help take the strain on the wedding day by, if required, being with the bride for the wedding day for essential maintenance and especially for working with the photographer to ensure the very best look for those once-in-a-lifetime memories. “

I’ve got ask you about your service for grooms, what’s that all about?

“Well, the bride may be the star of the day but she needs a good supporting cast and the re-assurance that the entire family and friends party look great too. For the chaps I usually provide a back and shoulder massage, an exfoliating facial, hair advice and a manicure; it always makes them feel great and look better for the lens too!”

Sounds great and I assume the bridesmaids, mothers, sisters and even friends can have the same treatment as the bride?

“Absolutely – and to a greater or lesser extent depending on budget of course,” says Lorna. “The whole wedding party always wants to look their best for the day – and again for those special photographs – plus because I can be there during the big day I can help everyone feel special and pampered.”

Once the initial consultation has happened and you’ve all got know and understand each other , what’s the next step?

“It’s a trial make-up session for as many as want to take part. For the bride however the trial is essential and so reassuring. Brides always leave the trial feeling so much more confident and relaxed, knowing how they will look on the day.

Quite often, as the trial reaches its fulfilment we will take some trial shots with a wedding photographer. I work closely with Will Wheeler Wedding Photography and Will is just brilliant at taking a variety of trial shots – this proves the make-up and the wedding day pictures will be just perfect and it’s another major concern that can be safely ticked off on the dreaded ‘to worry about’ list.”

(I’ll be talking more to Lorna about beauty and treatments so keep an eye on this web site or register here more information.)