These pre-wedding skin-prepping products are low on effort but high on reward. Soft glowing skin, right this way!
15-minute on-counter service, free, La Mer
La Mer’s iconic skincare range needs no introduction, but before you roll your eyes and think ‘oh yeah, I’ll shell out for luxury lotions in the run-up to my wedding, babes’, what if we told you this was the biggest bargain on the list?
Whether you’re already a fan of the range or just curious to try it out, you can book in for a complimentary appointment on counter at House of Fraser in Glasgow. During your 15-minute slot, you can choose from a Hydrated, Lifted, Soothing or Radiant treatment (the latter being our pick for bridal).
And it won’t cost you anything! We can’t promise you won’t be back after the big day shaking out a few wedding cards to treat yourself, but we can guarantee a quarter-hour of total bliss, and dewy, velvety skin to show for it. Book your appointment here.
Banana Bright Face Primer, £28, OLEHENRICKSEN
This summer, it sounds like stripping skin back and minimal coverage is on the cards. A departure from full-on Instagram glam sounds good to us, as regularly wearing a heavy base can leave skin a bit congested and dull. OLEHENRIKSEN’s Banana Bright Face Primer is a savvy buy for the season ahead.
Wearing it under makeup is a given, however you can also mix it with foundation to lighten up your base or wear it alone for a hydrated glow. It taps into two beauty buzz terms – banana powder and vitamin C-enrichment – so this little multi-tasker is perfectly placed to help you achieve the ‘no makeup makeup (yes ok, a little makeup)’ look that’s trending.
Original Recipes Geranium & Lavender hand wash, £14.99, and hand cream, £4.99, both Scottish Fine Soaps
Most of us feel like we ought to be doing more for our beauty regime. We know what we *should* be doing, what we actually commit to on a weekly basis doesn’t quite match up.
So forget recommending the £14.99 facial steamer from Lidl – which is brilliant, although you’ll use it twice and then the box will gather dust – we’re all about turning you onto little moments of self-care that you can easily adopt without having to put it on a to-do list.
Swap out harsh hand soaps for something nourishing and leave a hand cream on your desk at work. You’ll quickly get into the habit of slathering it on and your paws will be ready for their wedding band close-up come the big day.
Our current fave is the Original Recipe Geranium & Lavender collection from Scottish Fine Soaps. The handwash is sulphate-free and the hand cream contains shea butter, and both smell heavenly. So the next time you’re having a planning-related panic, take a time out with the soothing scent of lavender and then tackle telling your cousin she can’t bring a Tinder date no-one’s met yet.
Cleanse & Polish Body, £19, Liz Earle
Cleanse & Polish by Liz Earle is the ‘most awarded cleanser’ in the UK, with over 125 accolades elevating it to cult status. So it came as welcome news to fans when the brand dropped a body version recently.
In place of the facial equivalent’s muslin cloth is a gently exfoliating mitt, but the familiar eucalyptus oil fragrance is still there, alongside high levels of pure plant oils to ensure your skin doesn’t dry out during exfoliation.
It’s been five years in the making and has received rave reviews – could it emulate the success of the original and sell one every 15 seconds? We’ll have to wait and see.
The Dry Body Oil, £36, Olverum
If we had the time to waddle around naked like a starfish for 20 minutes every time we showered, a body oil would be a no brainer. Nothing leaves the skin so silky soft after application. For the more practical amongst us, we have to make do with your standard body butter. That is, until we tried out Olverum’s Dry Body Oil.
The ultra-light formula is quick drying, whilst still combining over 30 essential and cold-pressed botanical oils. And it’s one for the ethical clean beauty fans – the dry oil is vegan and cruelty free, plus free from *takes breath* artificial preservatives, fragrance and colourants, silicone, mineral oils, sulphates, and other nasties.
Feeling a bit burnt out by juggling life, work and planning a wedding? When you’re done misting it on, lightly massage onto your body, cup your hands over your nose and mouth and breathe deeply. It’s the best-spent five minutes of your day – trust us.