Wedding beauty, hair, makeup, skincare, fragrances and health & fitness

The best lightweight SPF to wear under your wedding makeup for a late summer wedding

Planning a late summer wedding? Protecting your skin from UV damage is just as important on your wedding day as achieving a flawless makeup look. Alexandra Georgio, Managing Director of Clinic Brands, explains why daily SPF should be an essential part of every bridal skincare routine and recommends SKEYNDOR Age Photo Defence as the ideal lightweight formula to wear beneath makeup. Designed to feel silky, transparent and non-comedogenic, it helps keep skin protected without leaving a greasy or shiny finish. Alexandra also advises incorporating SPF into your routine well before the big day to maintain calm, healthy skin, while remembering to protect your chest and décolletage too.

Ted Baker Launches Ocean-Inspired Fragrance for 2026

Ted Baker has expanded its Floralicious fragrance collection with the launch of Isla, a fresh new scent inspired by the calming power of the ocean. Designed to evoke the feeling of a peaceful day by the sea, Isla combines marine-inspired notes with bright citrus, soft florals and warm woody accords to create a fragrance that is both uplifting and relaxing. Top notes of aquatic accords, citrus and bamboo give way to a heart of lotus, sea spray and white florals, while amber and creamy woods provide a comforting finish.

Thinking About DIY Wedding Nails? Here's How to Use Gel Kits Safely

As wedding preparations gather pace, many brides are turning their attention to their nails, hoping to achieve a flawless manicure that will look beautiful in photographs and last throughout the celebrations. With at-home gel manicure kits becoming increasingly popular, they can seem like a convenient and cost-effective way to maintain salon-quality nails in the lead-up to the big day. However, questions remain about whether these kits are safe to use and how to avoid common mistakes that could damage the nails or surrounding skin. Gemma Romano, Chief Marketing Officer at Mylee, the UK's leading gel nail specialist, shares her expert advice on using gel manicure kits safely at home, debunking common myths and explaining how brides can achieve long-lasting, healthy-looking wedding nails.

Why Matcha Could Be the Secret to Radiant Wedding-Day Skin

As brides-to-be prepare for their wedding day, many are seeking skincare ingredients that deliver visible results while supporting long-term skin health. One ingredient attracting attention this summer is matcha, a green tea extract known for its powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Fulya Gündogdu, founder of holistic skincare and fragrance brand Fiolas, explains why matcha can be a valuable addition to a pre-wedding beauty routine, helping to soothe, protect and rejuvenate the skin. She also shares her recommended bridal skincare ritual, featuring FIOLA's Glutathione Serum, Intensive SOS Gel and Mineral Sunscreen SPF50, designed to leave skin looking refreshed, nourished and naturally radiant ahead of the big day.

Floral Street launches Enchanted Masquerade Perfume Mist for Bridgerton fans, now at Boots, M&S and online

Floral Street has launched its newest fragrance addition, Enchanted Masquerade Perfume Mist, available now for £24 (125ml). Shoppers can find the new scent today at Floralstreet.com, online at Boots and M&S, plus selected stores nationwide. Created for Bridgerton in partnership with Netflix, the floral gourmand fragrance combines fresh pear, hazelnut and gardenia with honeyed Centifolia rose, skin musks and sweet cedarwood. The perfume mist is enriched with mood-boosting, skin-loving ingredients and revitalising rose floral water, making it ideal for everyday use, layering with the matching eau de parfum or refreshing fragrance on the go. A romantic and playful new launch inspired by elegance and intrigue.

Your Final Bridal Beauty Plan: Skin, Hair & Glow Essentials

If you're reading this with only 2 weeks to go before your wedding day, you might be feeling a mix of excitement and quiet pressure to look your absolute best. The good news? You don't need drastic changes to feel radiant—just a few simple tweaks that enhance what's already there. You can't lose a dress size (and then your dress won't fit anyway), and your hair won't suddenly grow 2 inches in a week. But you can improve natural hydration for hair and skin in only a few days. Hydration is crucial for maintaining skin elasticity, supporting a plumper, more luminous complexion and softer, more supple hair texture.

Practical dietary and sleep hygiene strategies to help you stay energized and relaxed

Planning a wedding is an incredibly exciting milestone, but it can also bring its fair share of stress, especially when working within a budget. With so much to organise, many soon-to-be-brides and grooms find themselves feeling restless and even losing sleep. Here, Ros Simmons, co-owner of Curated Beauty London and nutritional therapist, explores practical dietary and sleep hygiene strategies to help you stay energized and relaxed during this busy period, along with safe, natural, non-addictive products that can support a restful night's sleep.

Ros advises: "It's completely normal to feel a little overwhelmed in the lead-up to your wedding, especially when you're balancing excitement with budgets and long to-do lists. Sleep is often the first thing to suffer, but it's also the one thing that will help you feel calmer, clearer and more like yourself."

How to find the perfect fragrance for your wedding day

For those planning a wedding later this year, choosing the perfect fragrance can be a meaningful part of the big day. A fresh, elegant scent can complement a late summer celebration, something light enough to avoid being overpowering, yet distinctive enough to stand out within the bridal party. With so many options available, understanding how to select the right fragrance and apply it effectively can help create a scent memory that lasts long after the day itself.

Christina Kamester, head of fragrances at So...?, Scentology and Escentual's affordable fragrance brands, explains: "Choosing a scent is a very personal choice. Many brides like to choose something new that will forever be associated with their special day. Ensure you trial wearing a new scent a few times beforehand, not just smelling it on paper but on your skin, as everyone's skin chemistry reacts differently with fragrance, to make sure you are happy with the scent and its level of strength and longevity.

How to treat pigmentation safely before your wedding: expert advice on retinol and pre-bridal skincare

Pigmentation can feel especially frustrating in the months leading up to your wedding, particularly when you're aiming for a smooth, even complexion. We spoke to Giselle Curcio, Chief Brand & Innovation Officer at AlumierMD, to understand how brides can address uneven tone safely and effectively before the big day. While retinol is known for refining texture and regulating excess pigment, timing, formulation and professional guidance are essential to avoid irritation. From gradual introduction to daily SPF and next-generation formulas like IntelliRET 0.3+, she explains how to brighten and smooth skin confidently — without compromising comfort or your wedding-day glow.

How to improve hair thickness before your wedding: expert advice for perimenopausal hair changes

Hair thinning and increased shedding can feel especially worrying in the lead-up to your wedding, particularly during perimenopause. We spoke to Lucy Palmer, founder of Hair Gain, an award-winning vegan range scientifically formulated to support healthy hair growth, to understand what can be done to improve thickness and overall condition before the big day. From targeted supplements containing AnaGain, zinc and biotin to scalp-focused treatments and strengthening masks, she explains how a consistent, holistic routine can help restore fullness, resilience and shine. With the right support from within and at the surface, visible improvements are possible in the months leading up to "I do."

How to get glowing skin before your wedding: nutrition tips and supplements

With wedding season fast approaching, many brides are looking beyond topical skincare in the pursuit of a healthy, radiant glow. We spoke to Maria Ribeiro (ANutr), Nutritionist at Innermost, to discover how diet and targeted supplementation can support skin health ahead of the big day. From omega-3 rich foods and vitamin C for collagen production to zinc, biotin and hydration, she explains how simple nutritional changes can improve tone and texture in the months before "I do." She also highlights The Glow Blend, a supplement combining collagen peptides, hyaluronic acid and vitamin C, designed to complement a balanced diet and consistent skincare routine.

Loving Tan Bronze Shimmer Luminous Cream: The bridal glow essential for flawless wedding photos

Jessie Dean, marketing director at Loving Tan, reveals her expert advice for brides seeking a radiant yet natural-looking wedding day glow. The brand's Bronze Shimmer Luminous Cream delivers instant luminosity with a lightweight, quick-drying and transfer-resistant formula, ideal for long celebrations and flash photography. Loved by brides and seen on celebrities including Sabrina Carpenter and Tate McRae, it creates a soft, airbrushed finish that enhances skin without feeling heavy. Jessie recommends applying to clean, dry skin on the morning of the wedding using the Flawless Body Brush, focusing on the shoulders, collarbones and décolletage for maximum impact. Bronze Shimmer Luminous Cream is available at Cult Beauty, priced £30.95, and via uk.lovingtan.com.

How to Achieve Frizz-Free Wavy Hair for Your Summer Wedding with the Merwave Wavy Hair Kit

Abi Reid, founder and creator of Merwave hair care, shares her expert advice on achieving soft, defined and frizz-free waves for your wedding day. Designed specifically for wavy hair textures, the Merwave Wavy Hair Kit helps hydrate, strengthen and smooth the cuticle to prevent puffiness in warm or humid conditions. With ingredients such as Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5), Glycerin and flaxseed extract, the range enhances natural wave patterns while creating a flexible cast for long-lasting hold without crunchiness. Perfect for summer celebrations where heat and humidity can challenge styling, the routine supports healthier, more manageable waves from ceremony to last dance. The Merwave Wavy Hair Starter Kit costs £50 (worth £85) and is available at selected outlets and via merwave.co.uk.

Wedding Hair Removal Tips: Is IPL Right for Fair or Blonde Hair Brides?

If you've ever looked into laser hair removal, you may already know it can be less effective on blonde or fair hair. Trish Coulton, founder of hair removal specialist brand Bondi Body, shares her expert advice for brides navigating hair removal ahead of the big day. From understanding how IPL works and who it's best suited for, to realistic timelines and when to start treatments, Trish breaks down what to expect — and what to avoid — in the run-up to your wedding. She also explains why waxing or sugaring may still be the safest option close to the date, and how combining methods can help keep things stress-free. When it comes to bridal beauty prep, planning ahead makes all the difference.

Wedding wellness tips with skin care and wellness expert Gudiya Patel

In the lead-up to your wedding day, taking a mindful approach to diet, fitness and overall wellbeing can make a noticeable difference to how you look and feel. Rather than resorting to restrictive panic diets, this is the ideal time to focus on nourishing your body, boosting energy levels and managing stress. Skin care and wellness expert Gudiya Patel, founder of the PHI Clinic, explains how a balanced nutrition plan, healthy lifestyle habits and targeted treatments can support glowing skin and sustained vitality. From bespoke wellness consultations to at-home self-care, her expert advice helps brides-to-be feel calm, confident and at their very best as the big day approaches.

Gustav Fouche on tackling delicate scalp woes

For anyone with sensitive skin, regular hair colouring — whether full colour, highlights or lowlights — can quickly turn a beauty ritual into an itchy, uncomfortable experience. A reactive scalp doesn't mean you have to give up the look you love, though. With the right techniques, formulas and preparation, colouring can be far kinder to delicate skin. Celebrity hairdresser Gustav Fouche shares his expert advice on how to avoid irritation, choose gentler colour options and protect the scalp before, during and after your appointment. From smarter application methods to simple pre-colour care and nourishing treatments, these practical tips prove that healthy, comfortable hair colouring is entirely possible — even for the most sensitive scalps.

Tried & Tested: Home Care Dermaroller Set

Microneedling has become a go-to treatment for those seeking smoother, clearer, more refined skin at home, so we were eager to see whether the Home Care Dermaroller Set lived up to its reputation. Promising to boost radiance, minimise pore appearance and enhance product absorption, this compact device offers a professional-style experience without the salon visit. To put it to the test, we handed it over to CWM editor Olivia Gibson, who has long dealt with enlarged pores and recurring blemishes. After incorporating the Dermaroller HC902 into her weekly routine and tracking the changes in her skin, she shares her honest experience—from ease of use and sensations to visible results and essential hygiene tips.

Wedding Hair Tips for Mature Brides: The Best Ways to Soften Greys and Boost Shine

If pesky greys are dimming your confidence ahead of the big day, you're not alone — and the solution may be simpler than you think. Celebrity hairstylist Jason Collier, founder of Studio 23 and key opinion leader for Jerome Russell Bblonde, shares how brides can embrace their greys while still achieving a luminous, wedding-ready finish. Instead of masking silver strands completely, Jason recommends working with their natural tone to create soft, multidimensional colour that blends seamlessly and boosts shine. From warm, golden highlights to subtle balayage and micro-blended pieces, his expert approach enhances brightness without overprocessing. With the right maintenance routine, you can enjoy glossy, radiant hair that feels effortlessly elegant on your special day.

Tried & tested: ZO Skin Health Retinol + Blemish Complex

When it comes to achieving clearer, smoother, and more radiant skin—especially in the run-up to a wedding—retinol is often hailed as a game-changer. So when ZO Skin Health launched its Retinol + Blemish Complex, we were eager to see whether it lived up to the hype. Designed to target texture irregularities, breakouts, and stubborn pigmentation, this advanced formula promises visible results with consistent use. To put it to the test, we enlisted CWM editor Olivia Gibson, who has first-hand experience managing combination skin, dark spots, and uneven tone. After incorporating the product into her routine and monitoring its effects over several weeks, she shares her honest thoughts, practical tips, and the results she experienced.

Tried & Tested: Sensilis Retinol Body Treatment

The Sensilis Sensitive Skin Lab Retinol Body Treatment is a body lotion with a fluid texture that's easy to apply and absorbs fast. Its firming and moisturising action unifies tone, lightens any spots and visibly reduces wrinkles due to its cellular renewing action. We had the opportunity to put it to the test. Here, CWM editor Rachel Westall shares her thoughts: "Looking for a wedding-day bod that's smooth, toned, and honeymoon-ready? This luxurious retinol body treatment from Sensilis is fabulous. The silky formula gently refines texture, enhances firmness, and evens tone, making arms, décolleté, and back look flawless in photos. Lightweight and fast-absorbing, it fits effortlessly into even the busiest pre-wedding routine.