Beauty routines can often be tedious and consuming at the end of a long day. All you want to do is jump into bed but instead you need to cleanse, tone, moisturise the face, apply lip balm and cocoa butter to your legs. Nonetheless, in the lead up to the big day, these little tasks can make a big difference – so get into the good habits early and you will reap the rewards.
Below are some easy and affordable ways to establish a bridal beauty routine:
Glowing Face
Daily cleansing and moisturising of the face is essential. Most people have their favourite products sorted, but if not, use the lead-up to the wedding to make a product switch. Skincare regimes should begin around six months prior to the big day so consult with a dermatologist or other specialist to see what products will suit your skin type.
Saver: Great skincare products don’t need to cost hundreds of dollars. There are plenty of items you can purchase from the supermarket, or natural skin treatments made from fridge or pantry items. Honey makes a great face mask as it is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients, and it draws moisture from the air into the skin to ensure it is retained it in the skin layers. Spread one teaspoon of raw honey on clean, dry skin, and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water.
Spender: Make an appointment with a beautician or dermatologist. Also, consider scheduling monthly facials six to 12 months before the big day to allow time for the skin to improve and settle. A one-off facial a week before the big day will not allow enough time to notice a great improvement.
Smooth Skin
It is easy to forget about the moisture status of your body and while in most cases the wedding dress will cover you, most brides want to be honeymoon ready. After winter many people have those dry problem areas such as elbows, shins or feet.
Saver: Use a body scrub in the shower at least two to three times a week to get rid of dead skin, then moisturise with a shea butter lotion. For the really tough skin, like on the bottom of feet, use a generous amount of lotion before bed and wrap feet in glad wrap or wear tight socks to lock in the moisture. Keep the cover on for at least one hour or overnight.
Spender: Go to a salon for a full-body scrub or a full-treatment pedicure. There are various treatments available to achieve the best possible skin, so consider consulting with your beautician or dermatologist to see which treatments would be best suited to your needs.
Wholesome Meals
Ideally, healthy eating should always be a priority, but when the countdown is on to the big day it certainly takes more priority than usual. Aim to establish healthy eating habits at least 1-2 weeks before the big day.
Saver: Limiting overly sugary, sodium loaded and processed foods will help with good skin. These also contribute to belly fat and bloating, and lead to skin break-outs. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption too as alcohol dries out the skin. For healthy looking skin consume lots of green vegetables, fruit and water.
Spender: For busy brides to be, considering signing up for healthy meal deliveries. These are a quick and easy way to ensure you are meeting all your dietary needs and looking after your body. You may also want to see a nutritionist to customise your diet at least six months prior to the big day.
Pearly Whites
When you are engaged, not only do you smile twice as much, but you will soon be the centrepiece of a whole album of wedding photos. Prepare your best smile to help achieve beautiful photos.
Saver: Avoiding coffee is preferable, but not always possible. Consider giving your teeth a quick brush after your mid-morning latte and opt for foods that naturally whiten teeth such as apples, carrots and strawberries. There are many whitening toothpastes on the market to choose from, so do some desktop research on the best ones. Whitening strips also work well for a quick fix. Alternatively, sprinkle baking soda onto your toothbrush and brush - as soda acts as a bleaching agent.
Spender: The ultimate choice is to have your teeth professionally whitened by a dentist. However, don’t go overboard, because if the white is too bright it looks artificial and becomes distracting in photos. One option is to have it done a few months prior so your teeth aren’t too bright. Also, teeth whitening will erode enamel on the teeth so avoid making regular appointments.
Neat Nails
Once you are engaged everyone will be asking to see your ring, so don’t ruin the great reveal with half painted or neglected nails.
Saver: Sit down so your hands are steady, and put a flat surface under you (like a laptop or hardback book) with newspaper on top to protect it - and put on a fresh coat of nail polish. Depending on the quality of the lacquer, you may need to top up every two to three days. For bare nails with shine; make sure they a filed, buffed, have clean cuticle beds and put a coat of clear polish on them.
Spender: Treat yourself to a regular manicure. Whether it’s shellac, acrylic or gel, professional jobs last for a couple of weeks. This will also give you the chance to experiment with a range of colours to see what suits you best before the big day.
Hair Removal
Ensure your legs are soft and smooth before the big day.
Saver: Buy some hot wax and maintain yourself at home with regular, monthly waxing sessions. Shaving saves time, but it dries out the skin and often leads to ingrown hairs. Regular waxing also means the return hair growth is slower and thinner, so in the long-term you won’t have to do it as often.
Spender: The ultimate treatments are laser hair removal appointments. These must be done at 4-6 week intervals. The number of treatments required to achieve the best, permanent results will depend on hair and skin type. Usually six to twelve sessions are recommended, so consult with your laser hair removal technicians first.
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