The Duchess of Cambridge, née Kate Middleton, famously did her own make-up at her wedding to Prince William, but even the stunning royal enlisted the help of experts in the lead-up to her big day. Kate, and her stepmother-in-law the Duchess of Cornwall, have long been fans of celebrity skin specialist Deborah Mitchell and her Heaven skincare products, some of which are made with bee venom.
The ingredient has a natural anti-ageing property and is used in many of Deborah's facials.
Speaking exclusively to HELLO! Online, Deborah has shared her top tips for brides who, like Kate, may be thinking about having a facial before their big day.
Kate was introduced to the Heaven brand by her stepmother-in-law the Duchess of Cornwall
"A bride should ideally start her pre-wedding facials three months before the wedding," said Deborah. "This is because if she has any allergies you can be sure there is time for it to clear up, and also closer to the day a bride's skin will be more stressed and with a good skincare routine this will avoid breakouts.
"The more the body becomes stressed pre wedding, the more the hormone cortisol is released which increases the oiliness of skin and leads to spots and breakouts."
Deborah Mitchell recommends having the Bee Sting Facial the day before your wedding
Deborah, who also counts Dannii Minogue, Victoria Beckham and Simon Cowell among her famous clientele, warned: "Do not try a new facial one or two weeks before your wedding. Give yourself at least four weeks and this way, if there is a problem, your skin will have time to heal."
The beautician is perhaps most famous for her products that are made with bee venom – the patent ingredient she dreamt up of herself. The Bee Venom Mask, the first of its kind, is now her best-selling invention and is what Deborah uses when she treats Kate and Camilla with facials.
Both Duchesses use the mask, which cleans and tightens skin and acts as a natural face-lift, in black and gold. However, if she's treating a bride on the day before her wedding, Deborah would use the Bee Sting Facial, to "ensure skin looks heavenly" she said.
Both the Duchess of Cambridge and Cornwall are fans of the bee venom products
On the subject of fake tans, especially for brides who want an added glow, Deborah said: "I will say do a trial with a certain brand weeks in advance to see if your skin is suited to the ingredients, and for the big day have your fake tan two or three days before, so you can avoid patches and dry skin splodges.
"If you end up with splodges just mix some lemon juice with sugar and rub into the area and it will clear. A personal fake tan favourite of mine is Clarins."
Deborah Mitchell also counts Victoria Beckham and Dannii Minogue as regular clients
On the day itself, Deborah has a few rules to follow.
"To make sure your lipstick lasts, pop one coat on and then place a tissue over the lips, pressing down gently. Use a brush to apply some translucent powder. Take the tissue off and apply another coat. Your lipstick will remain fresh all day," she said.
"Use Heaven cell renewal hydrogel as a primer to stop the midday make-up slide, and Ellajane wipes to keep the make-up fresh.
"I also advise all my brides to get some Optrex eye dew, because drinking champagne on the day will make the eyes red and there is nothing worse than a bride with red eye!"