Miscellaneous Monday: Top 7 Beauty Picks for Spring

If you're a regular reader of West Weddings Magazine, you'll know that one of our regular features in each issue is our Beauty Bible, where we share some of our favourite beauty finds with our readers. Today for Miscellaneous Monday we're bringing a taste of Beauty Bible here to the blog!

Whether you're a bride finalising her big day beauty regimen, or a guest with a mile-long list of weddings to attend this season (or both!), these products will keep you looking and feeling effortlessly fresh while you enjoy the wedding festivities.

Miscellaneous Monday: Top 7 Beauty Picks for Spring by westweddings featuring L'Occitane

1: Flora, by Gucci

There's a reason why we love Spring flowers - they encapsulate not only beauty, but freshness and an effortless simplicity. Gucci has translated that into a gorgeous scent with top notes of citrus mandarin accords and peony, a heart of rose and osmanthus flower, and base notes of pink pepper and sandalwood. (£53 at John Lewis)

2: Pure Color Cello Shots, by Estee Lauder

These light gel-based collection contains everything you need for colour - from cheek stains to lipsticks and lip glosses. They'll give you a bright, natural look without being heavy or over-the-top. Perfect for a Spring wedding. (£24 at Estee Lauder)

3: Shea Butter Hand Cream, by L'Occitane

This is one of our blog editor's favourite hand creams bar none. A little bit truly goes a long way and this hand cream will leave you feeling moisturised and smooth all day. Ingredients include 20% shea butter, accompanied with a honey and sweet almond extract which will help lock in moisture. This will not only last you though the wedding, but the honeymoon and beyond! (£8 at John Lewis)

4: African Violet & Pink Crush Nail Lacquer, by Tom Ford

These are two of our favourite shades of nail varnish this Spring. African Violet is bold, but with the playfulness of Spring. Pink Crush is that light, sheer tone that we adore - giving an elegant and polished, understated look. Tom Ford, you've done it again. (£20 at Nordstrom)

5: Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, by Liz Earle

This cleanser is a face's answer to prayer after a wedding. Its thick creamy texture will remove all hints of dirt and grime from skin - even removing stubborn makeup. Follow on with Liz Earle's Instant Boost Skin Tonic and a light moisturiser and you'll be feeling like a new woman. (£14.75 at John Lewis)

6: Photoready Skinlights, by Revlon

We love this facial illuminator from Revlon - and in a day that largely consists of posing in photographs, what better than a product that will make us look better in photographs? This illuminator will give you a natural radiance and glow that will last all day. It can be worn on its own, or mixed with foundation or primer for a dewy finish, or even used after make-up as a highlighter. (£11.99 at Boots)

7: Instant Smooth Primer, by Clarins

Looking perfect for your big day starts with the right foundation - and we particularly like this primer by Clarins. Unlike some other primers, its very light and smooth and easy to apply. And, as with our favourite products, a little bit goes a long way, so one tub will last you most of a year! (£26 at John Lewis)

New summer make up lines

A little while ago West Weddings was lucky enough to be invited to preview the summer make-up lines from Tom Ford, Estee Lauder and Clinique, at Bristol's Harvey Nichols store. We spent a happy afternoon testing out new products and found some lovely items that we think will be perfect for those of you planning a summer wedding and honeymoon.

With the warmer weather on the horizon, you won't want a tonne of make-up weighing you down on your wedding day; instead, think delicate products that create a barely-there glow. The Tom Ford skin illuminator in Fire Lust does exactly this, using real pearl extracts to create a lovely sheen. The matching illuminating cheek colour in Blush Guilt adds just enough colour to make sure you look radiant and natural in your photos.

Estee Lauder has a similar product in its Bronze Goddess range, the Bronze Goddess illuminating powder gelee in Heat Wave. 

This is an innovative mix of powder, gel and liquid that melts over your skin to create a delicate, pearlescent bronzer. Its lovely gold compact case will also ensure it won't look out of place in your wedding day handbag. For those of you that prefer more of a tanned look - or you are thinking of the honeymoon - go for the Bronze Goddess bronzing powders which come in a range of shades to suit all skin types.

Over at Clinique, its nail varnishes are a riot of summer shades. Our favourite was Really Rio, a beautiful coral shade that is perfect for warmer weather. We could easily picture this being used in a bridal pedicure, creating a pop of summer colour beneath your dress.

Clinique's lip smoothies are also ideal for brides wanting a slick of colour and a glossy finish without too much pigment. In our opinion, they're also worth buying for the name alone!

Thinking about the honeymoon again, we loved the Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess five colour eyeshadow palette in Batik Sun. 

The amazing turquoise shade immediately put us in mind of sitting next to a tropical sea, sipping cocktails while the sun blazes down overhead... 

Finally, we were seduced by the absolutely gorgeous - and unique - range of perfumes at Tom Ford. Tom's trick is to put together fragrances you wouldn't normally expect, such as coffee and rose, or to use unusual ingredients such as leather and frankincense. The result? Simply luscious perfumes that last for hours and smell amazing. Oh, and the packaging is pretty good too.

We hope this has given you some inspiration to try different looks for your wedding day make-up. After all, there's no better reason than a wedding to enjoy indulging in some new products. Happy shopping!

West Weddings was the guest of Tom Ford, Estee Lauder and Clinique. All opinions are, however, our own.