Bridal Beauty Blunders: A Cautionary Tale - with much better alternatives from Vivier, Kylie Cosmetics and Sensodyne!

Is it just me, or is there something shamefully wonderful about reading online wedding beauty disaster stories? You know the ones - botched brows, last-minute lip fillers gone rogue, a “refreshing” facial that leaves the bride looking like she’s been stung by bees. I feel bad, I really do… but also, I kind of live for them!

 

We're in the heart of wedding season, which means the internet is flooded with stories of brides who just had to try something new right before the big day. So let’s make a pact: don’t do anything drastic before your wedding - especially to your face. Choose the right partner, wear the perfect dress and keep your skincare in its lane. Because those photos? Yep, they’ll be around forever! 

 

Here are three beauty swaps to keep you looking radiant and still totally recognizable as yourself:

 

Microdermabrasion? - Nope.

Gentle scrub? - Yes please! 

Try: Vivier Vitamin C Scrub - 150ml - $60

 

This face and body scrub is your pre-wedding glow-up hero - minus the trauma. It gently buffs away dullness, thanks to biodegradable beads (mother earth says thanks) and adds a dose of vitamin C and hyaluronic acid to calm, brighten and hydrate. Translation: you’ll look fresh and smooth, not frazzled. It will also create the perfect base for your wedding makeup!

 

Available at spas and derm offices across Canada and online at vivierskin.ca. And elbows up, it's a Canadian brand!

Lip Fillers? We're begging you - no!

Plumping Lip Products? Always!

Try: Kylie Cosmetics Plumping Powder Matte Lip - $30 - in 6 shades of puffed-up pout perfection: Chocolate Teddy - brown; Craving Cherry - deep blue-red; Girls Girl - warm pink nude (shown in pic - an excellent wedding shade that screams "I do"); Nude Mood - light peachy nude; Special Energy - warm nude; Sweet Talk - deep warm berry

 

This is the bridal go-to lip product you'll want for creating a plump pout with a lightweight, high pigment,  matte finish. It smooths lines, doesn’t feather, blurs like a filter and lasts 12 hours, even through all those champagne toasts and awkward aunt kisses. And it has a secret weapon ingredient - Hot Flux - that plumps without pain (or regret). 

 

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada and online at beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca. 

Extreme teeth whitening? Nah.

Teeth brightening that won't make you weep? Definitely.

Try:  Sensodyne Clinical White Toothpaste - 75ml - $10.99  

 

It whitens by up to 2 shades and protects sensitive teeth 24/7 - so you’re not wincing every time you smile. The triple action formula contains clinically proven whitening ingredients that whiten, polish and help protect teeth from future stains. Safe for enamel, great for your breath and approved by dentists everywhere. In other words: it’s just what your teeth need to get wedding-photo ready!

 

Available at drugstores across Canada.

 

The moral of the story of course is save the big beauty experiments for after the honeymoon. Stick with tried-and-true glow-getters, plumpers and polishers, and you’ll walk down the aisle looking like the best version of you - not the victim from a cautionary IG story!

 

- Lisamarie - 

 

Fake Awake: The Lazy Girl’s Guide to Looking Well-Rested with Byoma, Grace & Stella and Anastasia!

Tired of looking tired? Same. Honestly, I’ve reached that phase of life where I can get a full eight hours, wake up at a decent time and still look like I’ve been trapped in a Netflix binge-fest with zero sleep and a minor existential crisis. Especially around the eyes — those f-ing traitors... So I went on a mission to find a few easy fixes that don’t involve filters, sunglasses indoors or just giving up and going back to bed.

 

BYOMA De-Puff + Brighten Eye Gel - 20ml - $18.99 - If your under-eyes are saying jet lagged even when you're well-rested (and haven't actually even been travelling), this one’s for you. A cooling, gel-serum hybrid that instantly hydrates, de-puffs, and brightens thanks to a powerhouse blend of Tri-Ceramide Complex, Triple Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C. It works instantly and over time, like the dependable skincare BFF we all deserve. Plus it's dermatologist-tested, non-comedogenic, fragrance and alcohol-free as well as vegan & cruelty-free. So basically: no nonsense, no irritation, and no more "Are you okay?" from strangers. 

 

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada and online at beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca. 

 

 

Grace & Stella Restoring Eye Masks - 6 pairs - $13.95 - these magical little jelly patches are like a venti coffee for your face. Whether you were up all night, sobbing over your ex’s Instagram or just living life, they perk up tired eyes with a mega-dose of retinol - to smooth fine lines; ceramide - keeps crow's feet in check; and glycerin - helps fade dark circles and puffiness. Basically, they’re nap time for your eyes before the rest of you goes to sleep - apply 20 minutes before you go to bed, remove and just rub any remaining serum into the skin and be prepared to wake up looking well rested!

 

Available at amazon.ca and graceandstella.com. 

Okay, let’s be real: if you still look tired even after skincare, the answer is distraction.Cue this all-star mascara...

 

Anastasia Lash Brag Volumizing Mascara - $35 - an ultra-volumizing, jet-black miracle in wand form. It’s bold, it’s black, it’s dramatic and it makes you look like you’ve had a double espresso and a decent life plan. The hourglass brush grabs every lash (even the awkward ones), lifting and volumizing like your life depends on it. No flakes. No smudges. Just boom, instant “I woke up like this” lashes.with an hourglass-shaped brush that hugs every lash like it knows you’re too tired to deal with falsies - and builds full-bodied, high-drama lashes faster than you can say “I just need five more minutes.” 

 

What’s inside?  acacia senegal gum - brings the volume (and not in a shouty way); rice bran wax - lifts, defines and lengthens - kind of like contour, but for your lashes; and paraffin + synthetic beeswax -  thickens things up without clumping or flaking out mid-afternoon. And because we care about more than just vanity, it's paraben-free, cruelty-free, gluten-free and full of absolutely zero drama (except on your lashes, where it belongs).

 

Not ready for a full-size commitment? There’s a mini for $20.50 - perfect for your purse, your pocket or your “I’ll try anything once” mascara mood.

 

Available at Sephora stores across Canada and online at sephora.ca.

 

 

Moral of the story: Your eyes may be tired, but you don’t have to look it. Between some puff-busting skincare and a show-stopping mascara, you can fake 8 hours of sleep like an absolute pro. Just don’t forget your coffee.. and just to be safe, make it a double!

 

 

- Lisamarie -