Ask The Experts: The Beauty Agency’s Bridal Beauty Tips

Renowned make-up artist Leonard Daly and hair stylist Lydia O’Carroll are the beauty industry leaders behind The Beauty Agency – a beauty collective so elite, it’s hard to believe it’s available in Ireland. Leonard has worked at London and Paris fashion weeks, created editorial work for British Vogue and our very own IMAGE and worked with Joan Collins, Nathalie Dormer and the Royal family. Lydia O’Carroll has worked on shoots for Vogue too, created hairstyles for Victoria’s Secret and Alexander McQueen and worked with an outrageously impressive clientele of Rosie Huntington Whitely, Lady Gaga, Diane Keaton, Eva Longoria, Kate Moss, Julia Stiles and Stella Maxwell.

Together, they run The Beauty Agency – a bespoke beauty service for private clients around Ireland. They’re a team anyone would want to create their beauty look for a wedding day, or really any event that you could get your hands on them for. If it’s good enough for Kate Moss…

Here, they share their expert bridal beauty tips.

Leonard Daly and Lydia O’Carroll of The Beauty Agency

Leonard Daly’s Top Tips for Brides to Be

1. First up is facials/skin treatments – my absolute favourite is CACI, a magical skin tightening, youth giving skin treatment; it is basically a facelift without the surgery. Tiny electrical impulses firm and tone sagging facial muscles and smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. If you’re not quite at the sagging muscle stage in life a good facial will have your skin looking bright and healthy. I adore Yon-ka facials as they properly clean your skin and include extractions – a must when paying for a facial, I think. Sure, I can rub creams in myself. If your budget does not allow for facials or skin treatments, getting a good cleanser and exfoliator for home use is so important. I always use skincare that has active ingredients like Glycolic Acid, as these will clean your skin but also  nourish, exfoliate and help resurface your skin. I would also hugely recommend getting a good quality facial brush tool, like Clinique’s or a Clarisonic. What these do is help resurface your skin by getting rid of dead skin cells. They also push the cleanser deeper into your skin, helping it work harder.

2. Next up is nails. There will be lots of photos taken of your hands on your wedding day so be sure to have good nails! If you’re a biter try to make an effort to stop as soon as you get engaged or start getting false ones on now so that you will break the habit. I’d recommend getting a manicure every 4-6 weeks – this will have your nails looking perfect for the wedding and you won’t look at your nails in disgust forevermore when looking at your wedding photos.

READ MORE: Derrick Carberry’s Six Steps To Making Your Wedding Make-Up Last The Whole Day (And Night)

3. Don’t forget about the skin on your body – most wedding dresses show some skin and just like the skin on your face you want this to look radiant! A dry body brush is a favourite of mine, I use mine before showering in the morning, the only thing to be sure of doing is brush towards your heart ie: up your legs from the feet up. It increases blood flow and makes skin look and feel healthier. Get the best body lotion you can afford; I adore Estée Lauder’s Luxe Body cream, €50, or if you can stretch the budget the Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv, €182, is amazing!

Estée Lauder’s Luxe Body cream, €50

Lydia O’Carroll’s Top Tips for Brides to Be

1. In the lead up to your big day I’d recommend getting regular Olaplex treatments regardless of whether your hair is coloured. Olaplex is literally hair insurance – trust me it’s the best treatment on the market for repairing and nourishing hair. I’d advise buying the home treatment also and using this weekly to maintain your hair’s health.

2. Decide on your bridal colour and cut 12 months before the wedding. If you hope to grow your hair for your big day have a chat with your stylist to set realistic expectations. Viviscal is a great hair supplement for anyone with thinning hair or slow growth. If you’re thinking of going down the hair extensions route then make sure you have them fitted well in advance of your wedding so your stylist can create a bespoke style for you and also so you are used to having them in on the day.

Viviscal Densifying Elixir, €24.95

3. Don’t book your hair trial until you’ve got your dress. I always find “The Dress” dictates the bride’s choice of hair and makeup. For example, an up do is always going to show off a backless dress beautifully where long curls would lessen the overall effect. When going to your hair trial I’d suggest bringing 5 images of the kind of look you are trying to achieve so that you and your stylist are on the same page and they fully understand your vision.

4. Invest in a good hair care range for at home. In the run-up to weddings, brides can often focus so much on their skin that their hair becomes a bit of an afterthought. You’ll thank yourself on your big day if you give your hair the love and care it deserves in the lead-up. I really love Moroccan Oil products and Davines. If you have lost some hair or have super fine hair Philip Kingsley products are a fantastic investment!

thebeautyagency.ie