5 Beauty Musts Before Your Wedding
If you've ever known a bride before her wedding there are just a few words that might describe her: glowing, excited, STRESSED. There are a million things going through the mind of a bride -- "Does the caterer know what time to arrive? Are they going to keep my $40 a plate meal warm?! How long will it take to have my dress alterations done and how much extra to tack onto that receipt? What's my budget again? Yeah-- we may need to stretch it. I think an ice sculpture is necessary. Okay--I've got my hair and make up artist but what style will I choose?! Will this hormonal acne ever LEAVE?!?" All these thoughts can cloud the importance of self-care that is necessary for your skin, hair, and nails to be at their finest. Here are 5 beauty musts to help prepare you to look your absolute best on your wedding day!
1. HYDRATE.
How many articles about skin care have you read that don't start with drinking water and staying hydrated? Probably none, because it's a cornerstone to maintaining amazing skin. Your skin is an organ, and like all of our organs, it has cells. These skin cells need water to function properly or your skin will dry up and get flaky. Not the best look for your wedding. Unless its a Zombie themed bash! So drink up! Mayo Clinic suggests women drink 9 cups of water per day. If you like lemon, throw some of that lemon juice in there to boost your intake of water, but also vitamin C which is excellent for your skin as well!
2. REST.
As the bride, you may have a million things in your head at all times and it's hard to turn off all the thoughts. But it's so important to get adequate rest. "A good night's sleep can mean good skin health because when you’re sleep-deprived, your body makes more of the stress hormone cortisol. Elevated levels of cortisol can lead to increased stress and inflammation in the body, hurting your skin’s quality, " confirms Niya Jones, MD, MPH. And who wants to perpetuate the stress longer than necessary anyways?
** Side tip -- Make a to-do list for the day. It may help you assign importance to what needs to get done and once you've completed it, you can tuck in better at night knowing you've done what you can for the day!
3. EAT.
THIS IS GOOD NEWS. A beauty must is eating. Hold up though....I'm not referring to french fries, burger, and a shake. Sadly junk food, though delicious, isn't going to bring out the best skin or hair for you. Clean eating and focusing on nutrient rich foods will bring vitamins and minerals to you that are essential for your body's best function. Think colorful fruits and veggies. There are so many wonderful recipes on the internet for tasty but heathy meals! Even if that sounds like an oxymoron to you. ;)
4. EXFOLIATE.
Exfoliation provides your skin with an even, rejuvenated appearance making make-up application a breeze and elevating your overall look. Exfoliating removes the dead skin off the top layers of your skin and minimizes pores -- the same dead skin that when clogging those pores causes pimples! This can help reduce break outs! An added benefit is that it allows for your skin to absorb other products like lotion or masks so they can hydrate and treat at their best. Microdermabrasion treatments and facials are often helpful. But if those treatments are out of your budget, there are excellent home-made formulas you can make as well, such as honey, lemon juice, and coffee grounds!
** Side tip -- If you plan to sunless tan, exfoliating is a great way to make sure your tan goes on evenly and the spray doesn't cling to the dead skin. If you will be in the sun and tanning before the big day, exfoliating helps unearth the new cells which will be tanned by the sun, making your tan last much longer! Don't forget the SPF!
5. SMILE.
Half of our sense of beauty is how we feel. And there is more to a smile than what it seems. The act of smiling actually initiates neural messaging that benefits your health and happiness! Listen to what Sarah Stevenson says in Psychology Today about smiling, "For starters, smiling activates the release of neuropeptides that work toward fighting off stress...The feel good neurotransmitters dopamine, endorphins and serotonin are all released when a smile flashes across your face as well. This not only relaxes your body, but it can lower your heart rate and blood pressure. The endorphins also act as a natural pain reliever - 100% organically and without the potential negative side effects of synthetic concoctions. Finally, the serotonin release brought on by your smile serves as an anti-depressant/mood lifter." What more could you ask for! The smiling also draws others close to you and is contagious, which serves as a reward for brain. So whatever you do, keep on smiling!
I hope you found these tips to be wholesome and empowering as your prepare for your wedding! Be sure to share them with any and all brides you know so they too can look and feel their absolute best on the day of their wedding.