Remember all those times you were exhausted to remove your makeup before bed? Or, how about your oblivious decision to punish your body with dehydration just because you were lazy to refill your bottle or carry it around? Wait, wait! Let’s not forget your dysfunctional sleep pattern just because you preferred to LOL about the memes you have probably seen for the millionth time. And, oh! How can we fail to recall all those times you ditched veggies to fulfill your junk food cravings?
Brides – save yourself from the guilt trip. The last thing you want to have on your mind while you prepare to be a glowing bride is the regret of ignorance towards yourself. A minute’s carelessness could form into an unhealthy habit, leading to a prolonged remorse. We’re talking about how you skip the essentials in self-care as you make it your way of life, which eventually lands you in trouble when your wedding date is fixed.
It’s never too late to act on your self-care! To remind you that we got your back as you panic about your body, skin and hair, here’s something from us to you – An all-inclusive beauty guide! Read on to indulge yourself in the simplest, yet most effective self-care tips shared to us by the most sought-after beauty expert – Ramani Fernando.
Trust us, they are easy-peasy!
Skin
As much as you prioritize your wedding gown, ensure you give equal importance to your skin. We know you would not prefer to cake your face with countless layers of makeup just to cover up the inflammation on your cheeks. As much as we believe in natural beauty, we know that the last thing you want to stress over on your big day is that stubborn zit that has left a permanent mark on your face. To a certain extent, everyone wants to look like a supermodel on a daily basis, but very few have the drive to act on it. The lack of commitment to keep your skin healthy pushes you to a sea of panic when you realize your nuptial is around the corner. Ultimately, the wedding date gives you a deadline to work on your beauty prep, forcing you to start making a move on self-care.
Let us hit you off with the basics.
You remember all those times people advised you to drink more water? Well, don’t cry now. You should have taken that advice! Guilty, already? Then, don’t waste any more time! This timeless tip is something that’s bound to save you from dry, flaky skin and chapped lips. Not only does water give your skin better clarity, it also replaces the dullness with a glowing complexion. So, remember girls! Apart from supporting your internal systems to function well, water also enhances your beauty.
Next up – Keep the stress at bay! Now, hold on! Before you lash out at us, let’s make it clear that we are totally empathetic towards you on this matter. We know the wedding preparations have been straining you and this is a phase where life can be very cruel to you as you try to take the next step forward in life. It may seem very challenging to remain calm when worries keep piling up in your head. Yet, we want you to know that stress can be one of your worst enemies at any given point. Stress weakens the immune system and worsens chronic inflammation. It also disrupts your sleep. Eventually, your skin is going to suffer due to this.
So, here are some tips to kick that stress away:
· Meditate
· Hit the gym or a yoga class
· Get help from family and friends for wedding preparations
· Do whatever you can to chill out
What more? A daily beauty regimen involving exfoliating, cleansing, toning and moisturizing can make a huge difference in the appearance of your skin. For best results, give your skin some extra pampering twice a day. Although cleansing and moisturizing might be the more obvious steps, it’s important not to skip out on toning as it will support to restore pH balance, reduce the appearance of pores and refresh your skin after the entire process. We know you’re thinking about which products to opt for. Keep in mind that everyone’s skin reacts differently. Starting your skin-care in advance will give you the chance to test different products to finally settle with the one that works best for you. In order to develop the effects of your daily routine, you can also opt for a monthly facial.
A word of caution: Don’t get a professional deep-cleansing facial within a week prior to your wedding because you’ll be saying hi to breakouts if you do. A better option would be a lighter facial that will hydrate your skin and leave you with that highly coveted, perfect complexion.
With all these advices buzzing in your mind, you might be wondering when to kick-start your self-care. To own that radiant skin, free of blemishes and impurities, you need to begin your skin-care months in advance. To be precise, 6 months prior to the wedding day is an ideal time.
Hair
Prove us wrong if you dare ladies – We, women, carry our tresses like a jewel-studded crown. Owning that picture-perfect hair makes any girl feel like she’s got her life together. Hair problems are not rare. Start by addressing the issues. Do you have dandruff, grey hair or hair fall issues? If yes, do consult a dermatologist who can advise you in these matters. Additionally, hair experts may be able to suggest you suitable hair treatments to fix these issues. Moreover, avoid using excessive heat through dryers, curlers and straightening tools. If needed, use a heat protecting serum prior to usage. Always towel dry your hair after shampooing. Need more tips? You should have listened to your grandma when you dodged all those times she tried to apply oil on your hair! Oiling your hair preferably once a week is indeed a proven method of getting thick and shiny hair. Now, make a trip to your salon to get that oil therapy done right!
Other hair-care tips:
· Use a wide-toothed comb to detangle your hair.
· Trim your hair every few months to get rid of split ends as it will stimulate hair growth.
· Avoid exposure to sun. You may use a scarf when stepping out.
· Avoid tying your hair too tightly in buns with sharp clips and pins.
· Ensure you use professional hair-care products.
· Start with deep conditioning treatments 6 months prior to your wedding.
Discuss the wedding hairstyles you have in mind with your hairdresser and create a hair plan. Run through the following:
· How long does the hair need to be?
· When will you need colour and cut visits?
· What are the best products that can be used to achieve the desired look?
Body
Most women don’t realize that skin-care routine truly starts in the shower. We recommend you to gently pat your skin dry instead of rubbing. Apply lotion within minutes of getting out of the shower to lock in moisture before it evaporates.
Also, remember – You are what you eat. This couldn’t get any truer! What you put into your body is just as important as what you put on it. The good news is that the best foods for healthy body, skin and hair are easy to find, simple to prepare, and delicious to eat. Get glowing from the inside out by adding these nutritional powerhouses to your bridal beauty diet. All the food listed below are bound to bless you with fabulous skin and hair, as well as a healthy body:
· Salmon
· Eggs
· Nuts
· Avocados
· Spinach
· Sweet potatoes
· Carrots
· Tomatoes
The Nitty-Gritty
Pores: Following an effective skin-care regime will help pores look smaller. You can also camouflage the appearance of pores with makeup and primer.
Last-minute zits: The use of ice can go a long way. This cooling method works best for inflammatory acne that flares under the skin.
Lips: For chapped lips, apply a good-quality lip balm before you head to bed at night. After waking up, use a damp washcloth or a toothbrush to gently rub off any dead or dry skin. This will also boost circulation to the area. One of the most common causes of dry skin is not drinking enough water. Getting eight glasses of water a day will benefit your body in lots of ways, and fuller-looking lips are an added benefit. You can also enhance the shape of your lips by over-lining them and filling it in with both the lip liner and lip colour on your wedding day.
Teeth: It is wise to visit a dentist and get your teeth whitened before your big day to ensure you flash a picture-perfect smile.
Eyes: Invest in a good-quality eye cream, apply cold compress often and get extra sleep. This will also reduce the risk of your concealer caking or collecting in any fine lines. A concealer is vital to cover up your dark circles and this needs to be a completely different colour to what you’d use on the rest of your face. You need a concealer with a peach undertone as this will erase any blue undertones you may have under your eye area.
Nails: Prepare the hands for all those close-up shots by using a moisturizing lotion throughout the day, especially after you wash them. Go through a few trial runs with your mani/pedi artist and know exactly how your skin and nails react to the spa’s products. This way you won’t be crying about a failed nail art on your wedding day, too.
Dos and Don’ts
Don’t get cakey – The thing with bridal makeup is that it should look naturally flawless and radiant. Thick, cakey makeup doesn’t fit the bill. Go for dewy, glowing makeup by opting for cream-based blush and foundation.
Don’t use the same concealer for your face and eyes – Eye concealer should be cream or emollient-based to avoid a cakey or flakey effect.
Don’t forget the eyebrows – Eyebrows are grabbing a lot of attention these days and we completely understand why. They frame the eyes and give the face definition and dimension. Fill in your brows to give them a full, natural shape.
Do apply a primer – For the perfect day, you want equally perfect makeup. A primer is a key factor in achieving that.
Do opt for waterproof makeup – Especially, mascara. From the walk down the aisle, to the maid of honour speeches, to your first dance as man and wife, we are almost positive the tears will be flowing – but your makeup doesn’t have to be. Stick to waterproof.
Trends for the New Decade
We think brides are now ready to play with colours and textures, while taking a more glamourous approach to makeup but in a very modern manner. People no longer feel obliged to follow the norms and are being more experimental than ever. 2020s brides are expected to opt for a natural look in terms of makeup and stick to effortless hairstyles.
