The Mother Of The bride has probably been dreaming about her daughter’s wedding since shortly after she was born.
And in that dream she probably envisions herself looking lovely, fresh faced and beautiful.

image via www.dresses8.com

It’s easy for the day of the wedding to be both stressful and busy for the bride’s mother, so she needs to plan ahead and factor in her own beauty needs.

Here are my beauty tips for the mother of the bride:

1. Get Your Skin Ready
No matter how skilled your makeup artist is, your makeup will never look fantastic if your skin is not looking fabulous underneath.
Start having regular facials in the months leading up to the wedding, or if the wedding is just around the corner give yourself a good (but gentle!) exfoliating treatment and use some sheet masks in the days leading up to the big event. Sheet masks are super affordable but also super effective. Look for masks that are hydrating and brightening. I order mine online at Memebox

2. Hydrate.
On the morning of the wedding apply liberal doses of both eye cream and moisturizer when you get out of the shower. You need to allow plenty of time for it to absorb in before you put on any makeup.

3. The Makeup Artist.
If you have a makeup artist coming to get the bride ready, have her do your makeup too. When you are booking her ask to see samples of her mother-of-the-bride makeup. Some artists are very heavy handed and only know how to do Instagram inspired heavy contour and mega brows, which frankly looks awful on everyone. If she can’t do your makeup either book someone else, or if you are doing your own makeup follow these tips.

4. Prime time
Use a good quality primer such as Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow Primer. This primer will not only give your foundation a perfect surface to adhere to, making it go on more smoothly and last longer, but it will also add some vibrancy to your complexion.

5. Fill In Your Brows
Typically as we age gravity sends everything downwards. Makeup-wise we want to create the illusion of everything being back up where it used to be. Filling in the brows with a complimentary color in a brow pencil or powder (don’t go too dark) redefines your face, and directs the viewer’s eye upward.

Helen Mirren on the red carpet is the perfect example of gorgeous, flattering makeup for a mature woman. She always looks stunning.

6. Keep The Eyes Defined But Soft.
Stay away from eye-makeup that is dramatic, overblown or dark, and avoid black eyeliner like the plague. All these things are super aging and draw attention to every fine line and wrinkle around your eye. Black liner grabs light and sucks it in, making it the first thing anyone sees when they look at you. In all your photos it will make you look like you are squinting. Opt instead for deep espresso brown or purple browns that will give you the accent you want, but won’t collapse your eye.

7. Use A Waterproof Mascara
Chances are you will tear up during your daughter’s wedding, so prevent the inevitable damage by wearing a waterproof mascara.

8. Use A Cream Blush
Cream blush gives the complexion a lovely radiant glow. The color is buildable so you can gently add more color, or if you’ve been too heavy handed it is easy to correct by swirling your foundation brush back through it. Try Laura Mercier Creme Cheek Color

9. Use A Satin Finish Lipstick
Glossy lips look great on a teen, but look silly on a mature woman.
Matte lips are super aging, but  a satin finish lipstick makes the lips look soft and alluring and is very flattering.
I am obsessed with Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick. The finish is gorgeous and the colors are perfect. 

10. Avoid Aging Makeup Mistakes
I have an entire post on makeup mistakes that age you. Learn more tips and tricks by reading it here