Celebrity makeup artist, Brett Freedman, shares his expert tips for keeping shine at bay for your big day
We all want to glow on our wedding day … we don’t, however, necessarily want to glow in areas such as our T-zone. Celebrity makeup artist, Brett Freedman, who’s beautified stars such as Jessica Biel, Camilla Belle and Selena Gomez, shares his secrets for fighting shine.
- Wash Right: Steer clear of overly drying face washes. “These will speed up oil production in order to ‘normalize’ the skin’s surface,” says Freedman. “Use something cleansing, but not stripping.” He recommends Neutrogena’s Classic Amber face wash.
- Target the T-Zone: Freedman suggests applying anti-shine lotions in lieu of your morning moisturizer but dab only on the target areas: cheeks, forehead, nose, and chin. Mineral-based sunblocks, surprisingly, can also minimize shine, with oil-absorbing ingredients such as micronized zinc or titanium dioxide.
- Base Coat: Foundation clogs your pores, which in turn, produces more oil. Instead, opt for a tinted moisturizer, which will allow your skin to breath and give you a nice, even summer glow. Simply use a concealer for spot treatment.
- Damage Control: To fight off any in-the-moment shine, Freedman recommends Clean & Clear oil-blotting films for men and MAC’s Blot Powder for the ladies. You can also blot with tissue but Freedman warns to never blot with one that has lotion in it. “I try to find the cheapest, papery-ish tissues to have on hand to absorb shine,” he says.
- You Are What You Eat: On the days leading up to the big day, limit your cocktail and spicy food intake and instead chow down on foods high in vitamin A (such as carrots, leafy greens, and apricots), which slows down oil production.
- Pamper Yourself: If you have exfoliating scrubs and masks that you’ve used in the past, take a night to give yourself a facial (after months of planning, you deserve it!). Keep in mind that now’s not the time to try new products—the last thing you need is a bad skin reaction. Exfoliating will loosen dirt and oil in the pores, and a clay or salicylic acid mask will temporarily decrease oil production.
Photo credit: HoodieFanatic
