Wedding beauty, hair, makeup, skincare, fragrances and health & fitness

Dutch braid as the most popular wedding hairstyle this year

Beauty and wellness marketplace Fresha, analysed nationwide Google searches made for a list of bridal and everyday hairstyle-related terms and names a Dutch braid as the most popular wedding hairstyle this year. With 10,432 Google searches per month, the Dutch braid triumphs and could be the most popular hairstyle of the wedding season for 2024. The braids are thought to have originated in Africa and can be styled in various ways to suit a bride's taste. The French braid comes in close second place with 10,203 average Google searches per month. This is like the Dutch braid but involves crossing strands over each other rather than three strands being plaited underneath one another.

Hydration boost

Introducing the newly reformulated Hydra-Essentiel [HA2] Bi-Phase Serum and Cream Mask from Clarins, a duo of hyaluronic acid providing multi level hydration. The Serum (£47) helps to refine skin's texture and tightens pores, while the Mask (£34) restructures the skin and reinforces its natural defences. 88 per cent of women said their skin felt the hydration boost.

Find them at www.clarins.co.uk

Face facts

If you're a social media regular you may have come across another beauty trend causing a stir – #SkinCycling. Super Facialist's resident skincare expert, Charlotte Connoley, recently took Kelly Andrews through the process and the tools for the job.Night one is your exfoliation step. Try Super Facialist Vitamin C Micro Polish Wash (£10), which also introduces an essential dose of vitamin C into your beauty regime. Next, night two, is your retinol treatment. Super Facialist Retinol Restoring Serum (£19) is ideal for this. This is followed by night three: recovery. Here, you'll be nourishing and hydrating the skin with Super Facialist Vitamin C Sleep & Reveal Night Cream (£17). Finally, night four is a further night of recovery before you start the entire process again. This time you'll be boosting the skin's barrier with niacinamide for which Super Facialist has Clear Skin Breakout Buster Serum (£9). I'm off to give it a go.

CWM team edit round up Margaret Dabbs London's wedding prep best buys

Olivia Gibson says, "I've been struggling with dry feet for quite some time now, so I thought I'd try out the Limited-Edition Intensive Hydrating Foot Lotion with Grapefruit & Rosemary – two scents that I absolutely love! I used a small amount of this lightweight product on my feet every night before bed for a month. It absorbs quickly and I saw a significant improvement not only in my feet but also in my nails. I noticed the hard skin, especially on my heels, slowly disappearing after just a few uses. Now, I have smooth and soft skin, perfect for the upcoming summer season. What's amazing about this product is that it works for all skin types and ages.

Carol Joy London reveals new additions to its anti-ageing skincare range

The expert in science-backed, collagen skincare has added two new anti-ageing products to its skincare range. Carol Joy London is launching its brand-new Ultimate Serum, clinically proven to support collagen production, alongside its Lip Contour Cream, which tackles fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth. The brand's Ultimate Serum is said to elevate your skincare ritual. With a silky-smooth texture, it will provide an instant hit of hydration for your skin, without that heavy, greasy feeling. Collagen Peptides support the body's natural collagen production, smoothing fine lines and plumping skin, lending your complexion a radiant glow. Geraldine McColgan, Head Spa Educator at Carol Joy London, says: "Our innovative formulation features Vitamin C, Alpha Arbutin and Hyaluronic Acid to deliver beautifully hydrated and plump skin.

Keep on swimming

Beauty editor Kelly Andrews is obsessed with Chantecaille's new Sea Turtle Collection, created to support Amazon Conservation team and their Ancestral Tides initiative, which unites indigenous communities to protect turtles and their coastal marine ecosystems. The silky soft eyeshadow trios come in Warm and Cool, priced at £66 each. The packaging is so nice, it makes us feel like we don't want to use it, or that we need some funky way of up-cycling it after use - answers on a postcard please if you anyone has anything creative we can do post-use! It's just too cute to throw out!

Eco heroes

The year got off to a resounding start for haircare brand Collinge & Co, which has been awarded five accolades in the 2023 Veggie Awards including the respected gold award for itsGentle Shampoo. These gongs shine a light on the cruelty-free and eco brands of tomorrow, rewarding standout companies in the plant-based and ethical industry that consumers can trust. All Collinge & Co products are PETA approved, cruelty-free, made in the UK and feature the kindest vegan ingredients to boost moisture, lock in colour and renew dry parched tresses and protect the scalp. Shop the range at https://collingeandco.com

For hair and mind

Hair Syrup, the viral haircare brand known for its innovative and nourishing hair treatments has launched its Zen Lavender Scalp Oil (£14.50). Infused with a natural oil-based blend of calming aromatherapies lavender, oat and hemp, it boasts a divine scent designed to relax the senses, promote wellbeing, and destress you all while working to encourage healthy hair growth - just what you need in the run up to your wedding day.

Under cover

Created with diversity and inclusivity at the forefront, BPerfect Cosmetics new Full Impact Concealer (£14.95) comes in 26 shades to smooth and illuminate skin. Infused with niacinamide, I love its soft matte formula and intense pigment. It blends super-easily whether you're wearing other products or rocking the no make-up look, and creates a flawless crease-proof look. I'm a fan of the unusual applicator that not only offers even coverage but is also gentle on the delicate under-eye area. It's my latest saviour for dark circles and blemishes. Shop your shade at www.bperfectcosmetics.com

Got milk?

Sure to be the new go-to skin prep, Thayers new Hydrating Milky Toner (£16.99) delivers up to 48 hours of hydration. Formulated with ultra-hydrating ingredients such as snow mushroom and hyaluronic acid it's designed to revive your moisture barrier and nourish your complexion. It's the perfect second step in your morning skincare routine for an all day, fairy-like glow that won't fade.

Lush for lashes

We know that brides love to make a feature of their eyes on W-day, so why not help your make-up artist along by giving the condition of your natural lashes a boost? CWM editor Olivia Gibson put PERL Cosmetics' TikTok viral lash oil (£22) to the test to see what all the fuss is about. "This product blew me away," she tells me. "With easy application, I've been coating my lashes from the root to the tip daily before bed. The nourishing vegan-friendly formula blended with natural plant seed oils makes my lashes feel softer with less shedding and breakage. I've already noticed new growth in such a small amount of time."

Elevate Your Skincare Routine with Elizabeth Grant Skincare’s Bestsellers

Elizabeth Grant Skin Care has launched in the UK! Central to the brand's success is its proprietary ingredient, Torricelumn, a blend of natural sea vitamins, minerals, and proteins designed to rejuvenate and repair the skin. Supreme Essence of Torricelumn, £59. This powerful serum is designed to deeply hydrate and rejuvenate the skin, significantly reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Its advanced formula features the exclusive Torricelumn compound, which penetrates the skin to deliver essential nutrients and moisture, resulting in a radiant and youthful complexion.

The secret behind Penelope Featherington's luscious lashes!

The MUA behind Bridgeton Series Three's key looks, Jessie Doel (@jessie_hmua) has revealed the secret behind Penelope Featherington's (Nicola Coughlan) and Kate Bridgerton's (Simone Ashley) stunning eye looks - £10 ARDELL Individual Faux Mink lashes! Ardell Faux Mink Individuals Combo Pack, £10 from Boots, enhance your natural lashes with 60 individual lash clusters of short, medium, and long lengths. Lightweight, easy on the eyelids and 100% cruelty-free too

Pedal for mental health: The benefits of cycling during Mental Health Awareness Week

1 in 4 people in the UK experience mental health disorders every year. This reality highlights the pressing need for awareness, support, and empathy towards mental health problems and people who experience them. Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual event to raise awareness about mental health disorders, its causes, and effects. This year, Mental Health Awareness Week falls onto Monday 13th of May to Sunday 19th of May. The theme of this year's Mental Health Awareness Week is 'movement', in hope to encourage individuals to incorporate movement into their daily habits. The NHS recommends at least 2.5 hours of exercise a week. However, incorporating daily movement not only allows individuals to enjoy fresh air and outdoors time but also triggers the release of 'happy hormones', which positively impact people's mental well-being.

A PT's top tips for staying fit and motivated in the run up to your wedding

Ali Malik is a Personal Trainer, Strength and Conditioning Coach, and founder of Fit Labs Kensington. Below he provides his top tips on how to stay fit and motivated in the run up to your wedding. Staying motivated and keeping fit can be a challenge, but with a bit of creativity and determination, you can make it enjoyable and effective. Here are some unique, out-of-the-box tips:

Tried & tested: Carol Joy London, Collagen Eye Mask

Loved by the press, make-up artists, and models for its instant results, this collagen-powered treatment from Carol Joy London is formulated to transform tired-looking eyes in just 15 minutes. Suitable for all skin types, the Collagen Eye Mask uses Collagen Peptides and Native Collagen Fibres to stimulate the skin's own collagen production process. This helps to rejuvenate skin and replenish epidermal moisture levels, increasing hydration by up to 51%. The innovative collagen technology also helps improve the appearance of fine lines, reducing wrinkle depth by up to 28%. Spiked with a potent dose of Hyaluronic Acid, the Collagen Eye Mask delivers intense hydration, plumps skin, and helps to counter redness and irritation.

Say 'I Do' to perfect lashes: Get wedding-ready with ARDELL Seamless

When it comes to big day beauty, the last thing you want to worry about is a strip lash mishap. But with ARDELL seamless lashes, you can achieve the perfect customisable lash look that will leave you feeling confident and beautiful so you can walk down the aisle, well, seamlessly. Say goodbye to the frustration of traditional strip lashes lifting or peeling off at the corners. These lashes are easy to apply and designed to seamlessly blend with your natural lashes, offering a comfortable fit that lasts all night. With ARDELL, you can enjoy full creative control over your wedding look. The lightweight, flexible design allows for effortless movement, so you can enjoy every moment of your special day without distraction.

An expert guide to lavender's health benefits

As the cold winter departs and spring brings a fresh new bloom of nature, the plant experts at Ashridge have revealed some of the most useful health benefits of lavender and professional tips for planting in your home. The scent of lavender has often been associated with sleep and relaxation. Both lavender oil and indoor lavender plants can be used to improve sleep quality. Research shows that inhaling lavender while asleep can boost the time spent in a deep sleep, as well as help relieve insomnia, depression, and anxiety by interacting with your brain and nervous system. There are various ways lavender oil can be introduced to your sleeping routine, including through skin application, pillow mist, tissue, diffuser, or a hot cup of lavender tea. 

This at home pilates routine will help de-stress ahead of your wedding

Low impact workouts like pilates have had a surge in popularity, and it's easy to see why. Super quick you can see results in short 5-20 minute sessions, it's suitable for all abilities and ages, requires little to no equipment, can be done in the comfort of your own home and has many many benefits for improving our mental and physical wellbeing. Below Gemma Folkard, Founder of Shape Pilates, provides a pilates routine that will de-stress, soothe stiff muscles and increase flexibility. Ideal for practicing ahead of your wedding day when you won't to focus on your mind, body connection and feel your very best self.

The power of a pre-wedding sleep routine

Aside from looking radiant and well-rested on your wedding day, getting enough sleep offers additional benefits that extend beyond the surface. In this article Alison Hughes, Interiors Director at Coast Road Furniture, shares her tips for a healthy sleep routine ahead of your nuptials. As the excitement builds and the countdown to your wedding begins, there's one often-overlooked aspect of wedding planning that can significantly impact your overall experience: sleep. Amidst the whirlwind of preparations for your big day, it's easy to neglect this essential component of self-care. Establishing a pre-wedding sleep routine not only ensures you look your best for your wedding but also sets the stage for a calm and joyful celebration. Here, I'll take you through some of my best tips for getting the rest you need ahead of your big day.