Similarly to how makeup can highlight your favorite features or how shape-wear can enhance your body’s curves, these professional beauty tricks will give your photos an extra dose of glow and polish that fancy photo editing simply can’t. And – most importantly – these tips will help boost your confidence, bring out your natural gorgeousness, and make you feel incredible!
1. Eat your favorite superfoods.
If you want your skin to truly glow, we recommend indulging in water-rich superfoods like pineapples, celery, papaya, and cucumber. Not only are these fruits and veggies fresh and delicious, but they’ll help detoxify your body so you can look and feel your best. Be sure to avoid greasy and unhealthy foods, especially those with high sodium levels, as they can cause you to retain water and feel bloated.
2. Keep things fluid
That beautifully-feminine figure of yours is made up of 50-70% water and each cell in your body needs it to survive. Make sure to drink plenty of water everyday, both leading up to your shoot to help avoid water retention, and as frequently as possible for general wellness. The Mayo Clinic recommends 11.5 cups (92 oz) for women, as a general recommendation. You can also try this hydration calculator from CamelBak that uses factors like your weight, height, and age to determine how much H2O you need. Regardless of your body’s daily requirements, getting enough fluid is paramount to your health and the secret to a fabulous photo shoot. We also recommend avoiding alcohol and other substances that might make you feel unnecessarily tired. Your reward will be gorgeous photos (and a chilled mimosa waiting for you on the day of your shoot).
3. Snooze like sleeping beauty.
Boudoir is about feeling sexy, vivacious, empowered, and confident… and it’s difficult to feel that way when you’re tired and cranky from not getting enough rest. Sleep strengthens your mind, restores your health, and fortifies all of your internal systems, so if you’re not getting enough sleep, you’re simply not giving your body what it needs. And that will show in your photos. Both the CDC and the Sleep Foundation recommend that most adults get a minimum of seven hours of sleep per night, so turn on your favorite sound machine, pop a (doctor-recommended) melatonin, or snuggle up with your sleepiest fur baby to make sure you get your Zs in.
4. Make time for a hair apy.
When it comes to boudoir, your tresses are often your best accessory. Many women find power in their hair, which makes sense considering it can help showcase their personality and style. If you’re planning on getting a trim or any chemical treatments like color, extensions, or relaxers, we recommend scheduling these appointments two weeks prior to your shoot so that your hair will have a more natural look in your photos. However you choose to do your hair prior to your shoot, our fabulous in-house stylist will make you look and feel like the queen you are on your big day.
5. Nail your mani/pedi
Whether you’re going for a clean look or something a bit more daring, your hands and feet will be focal-points in many of your photos. Natural nails – such as a clear coat, French manicure, or neutral color – look great in boudoir photos. But, if you’re going for a bolder vixen look, you can also consider edgier nail styles, like almond or stiletto shapes, or dark, racy colors (like black and red). Whichever way you decide to go, we highly recommend spending some time on your nails. If you can’t get to a salon, do a DIY mani/pedi at home by trimming your cuticles, buffing your nails, and applying a fresh coat of polish. Check out our Pinterest board for inspiration.
6. Don’t forget about your lady bits.
After all, you’ll be wearing… well, not very much. We love the smooth, fresh, and confident feeling that comes after a great waxing appointment. But something to consider is that it can take 1-3 days for redness and irritation to subside, especially if waxing your most sensitive areas isn’t something you do regularly. The same concept applies to legs, underarms, eyebrows, and anywhere else you’d like to remove unwanted hair. If you do opt to wax, be sure to plan ahead. P.S. Shaving or going au naturale are great options, too. Your comfort and confidence are always the most important elements to consider when planning your boudoir shoot.
7. Book your beauty appointments early
Scheduling your beauty appointments as early as possible will help reduce stress and ensure you look and feel the way you want to on your big day. Many stylists, estheticians, and other beauty technicians book up quickly and need several weeks of lead time. The last thing we want is for you to scramble to coordinate last-minute appointments, forgo a beauty treatment that’s important to you, or have to schedule with a specialist you may not be comfortable with – after all, that’s when you’re supposed to be relaxing and practicing extra self-care – so we recommend scheduling any beauty appointments you’d like to have immediately after you book your photo shoot date. If you don’t have a hair, nail, or waxing professional in mind, or want to try someone new, we have a great network of beauty pros, who also offer exclusive discounts to Silk & Lace Boudoir bombshells (*ahem* that’s you).
8. Sexify your skin
There’s no better way to pamper your skin than by giving it the moisture and hydration it needs. Slather on your favorite facial and body cream after showers, before bed, and/or when it’s feeling dry. Extra virgin (unrefined) coconut oil is a great moisturizer – not to mention, it’s an affordable option that smells amazing and can hydrate your face, hair, heels, and any other area on your bod that needs some TLC. If you feel like going the extra mile, schedule yourself a massage, facial, or spa day. Oh, and don’t forget about that sexy smile. After brushing your teeth, gently exfoliate your lips with your toothbrush or favorite lip scrub to remove dead skin and give your pout a soft, smooth texture that will make it look extra kissable.
9. Practice Self-Care.
This process (and life in general) can feel overwhelming sometimes – and that’s okay! Remember to take some time out for yourself, even if you have to schedule it in your calendar. Relax with a bubble bath or favorite book. Call a close friend or reach out to your boudoir sisters in the Silk & Lace Facebook group for some extra support and encouragement. Connect with nature by taking a long, leisurely walk or by spending time near the water. Put on your comfiest clothes and binge your favorite guilty-pleasure show on Netflix. Or do literally anything else that makes you feel happy, relaxed, and important. This boudoir journey is about YOU so it’s important to show yourself some extra respect.
