Photography: Zara Clarke Photography
In her 20 year career as a hair and makeup artist, Andrea Claire has done it all and used it all. There's no better person to go to for advice when it comes to selecting the best products for your face. Her most invaluable advice to beauty novices: Skin prep. "Preparing your skin with the right products like a good base will guarantee your makeup stays on throughout the wedding," advises the Singapore-based Canadian.
What is skin prep? Basically all the stuff that goes on your face before you add colour to it – cleanser, toner, serum, moisturiser, sunscreen, primers, and so on. Here she provides useful skincare tips and recommends her beauty must-haves.
Cleanser
Double cleansing your face is a good habit to inculcate in your daily regimen. The first wash lifts surface dirt makeup, while the second makes sure that there are no remnants of impurities left. Dirty skin causes pores to clog up and stretch out thereby causing skin to sag and age. Andrea recommends: Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel, Shiseido Vital Perfection Treatment Cleansing Foam, and Foreo Luna 2 Cleansing Device.
Exfoliant
Exfoliating once or twice a week helps rid the skin of dead skin cells therefore brightening it. Regular exfoliation also has a better absorption rate for serums, moisturisers and masks! Andrea recommends: Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant and Skin Inc Pure Revival Peel.
Toner
Toners prep the skin for serums and moisturisers and should never irritate or aggravate the skin. TIP: You can freshen your makeup by spritzing on a toning mist mid-day. Andrea recommends: Fresh Rose Floral Toner.
Serum
Serums blast vitamins, antioxidants and other ingredients deep into the skin to slow down ageing, boost radiance and hydration, and fight pigmentation, among others. Andrea recommends: Skin Inc Daily Dose serums.
Moisturiser
The most important step is applying moisturiser as it gives the skin protection, rehydration and slippage when applying foundation. Choose one that targets your needs and issues. Andrea recommends: Tried, tested and trusted products from Dermalogica, Shiseido, Goodal and Kate Somerville.
Sunscreen
The last step before makeup is applying sunscreen to keep freckles and pigmentation at bay. For wedding makeup, make sure you choose one that isn't overly reflective, as the oxides in some suncare products can may make you look shiny in photos. Andrea recommends: Kiss My Face Face Factor SPF 50.
Primer
Primer is your first makeup step and probably the most important because you can correct, brighten or mattify, all while creating a barrier between your skincare and natural oils. A fan of multi-priming, Andrea likes to matte the T-zone while leaving the rest of the face radiant. Andrea recommends: Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer, Charlotte Tilbury Wonder Glow, NIOD Photography Fluid, and The Face Shop Lovely Me:Ex Makeup Base 01 Green for color correcting redness.
