Bridal Beauty Prep
Ivette Manners
Your wedding day is the one occasion when you’ll want to look unforgettably gorgeous, and you’re sure to spare no expense to have flawless skin, perfect hair, and a well-toned body. To help you get ready for your big day, we’ve put together a team of top experts to give you their best beauty and fitness tips.
Get fit.
You’re engaged! One minute you’re jumping for joy, and the next you’re doing jumping jacks – anxious to lose weight to fit into your dream wedding dress. Whether you want to shed some pounds or melt a few inches from your waist, start a healthy fitness and nutrition plan as soon as your groom puts that sparkling diamond ring on your finger. “The sooner you get in shape, the faster you’ll see results and be able to cross losing weight off of your wedding to-do list,” says Jim Karas, personal trainer, host of Couch Potatoes on ABC News Now, and author of Flip the Switch: Lose the Excuse, Lose the Weight, and Get the Body You’ve Always Wanted.
Karas suggests that a bride wait to buy her wedding dress until she’s at the size she wants to be. “You’ll be much happier in the long run,” says Karas. “Some brides buy a dress in a smaller size because she plans on losing the extra pounds for her wedding day. This is definitely not a good idea. So many brides put off losing weight until the last minute and then call me a week before the wedding in tears.”
You’re overall goal is to get lean. According to Karas, strength training is the best way for women to lean out their body. Strength training (such as lifting free weights, working out on weight machines, and doing pushups) reshapes your body, improves posture, and boosts your metabolism. Your daily exercise routine should consist of a 5-minute cardio warm-up (to raise your body temperature in preparation for the rest of your workout), then a 25-35 minute strength-training session. “Alternate one day upper body exercises, the next day work on your lower body,” says Karas. Since many wedding dresses today show off the shoulders and back, Karas suggests that brides do a lot of upper body exercises. “If you’re lean and defined, you’ll look amazing in your dress.” Make sureto take one day off each week from your training to rest your muscles, but don’t skip your workout on your scheduled days – at any price. When you’re crunched for time, which happens when you’re planning a wedding, exercise is frequently the first thing to go, but don’t let it slip. You’ll be happy you stayed dedicated to it.
Now that you’re in exercise mode, balance it out with a good diet plan. Since there will no doubt be lots of parties and celebrations surrounding your nuptials, you’ll want to be conscious of the food and drinks you consume. Adjust your diet to healthier eating habits – and don’t depend on crash diets. Adapt a diet of protein (fish, lean chicken and beef, eggs, etc.) and lots of fruits and vegetables. Also, cut down on processed carbohydrates like white bread and rice, pasta, and cookies. This will enable you to achieve greater energy levels.
And when all the wedding festivities are done and your honeymoon is over, don’t give up your fitness and diet plan. “The new body you worked so hard to get in shape should stick around,” says Karas. The key to any successful fitness and diet program is planning. Schedule the time to exercise and shop for groceries. Consider having food delivered to your house. “Make it as simple as possible to follow through,” says Karas.
If he isn’t already, get your groom involved in a new healthy lifestyle, too. It’s a good habit to start now. Tell him that strength training will help him shave 3-4 strokes off of his golf game or make that jump shot.
Healthy skin
Now that you’re getting your body in great shape, get your skin in top form, too. “Before your wedding, your dermatologist is your best friend,” says Doris J. Day, MD, author of Forget the Facelift. “Start visiting a dermatologist as soon as you’ve set your wedding date so you can start prepping your skin for the big day.” Begin with developing a good skincare routine and make time to have any modifications needed (such as treatments for lines, discoloration, acne, etc.) done well in advance of the wedding. “Then a month before the wedding, visit your dermatologist for cortisone injections for any blemishes.”
The biggest complaint most brides have is acne breakouts. “You can dab on a little salicylic acid and cover them up with a good concealer,” says Dr. Day. But, having your dermatologist administer a quick-fix cortisone injection is essential. “The one thing you don’t want to do under any circumstances is pick your blemishes,” says Dr. Day. “You’ll only aggravate and make them worse.”
Since wedding-planning stress can wreak havoc on your pretty face, this is not the time to slack off on a regular skincare routine. You can keep it simple with cleansing, moisturizing and using sunscreen every day, and exfoliate once a week. “This is not the time to start experimenting with a bunch of new products,” says Dr. Day. Stick with what you know works for you, and integrate products recommended by your dermatologist. And if there is a great facial mask or treatment you are dying to try, run it by your dermatologist first.
Get your groom’s skin in shape, too. “Many of my brides make appointments for their fiancés,” says Dr. Day. “You can also buy a few products for him to try. Make it romantic.”
Flawlessly made up face
“Planning a wedding is fun and exciting, but also very stressful,” says superstar makeup artist Bobbi Brown, founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. “Start taking extra good care of yourself as soon as possible.” When you’re feeling and looking healthy, you’ll only need to enhance your good looks. Begin with the basics: “Remember to moisturize your skin the day of the wedding,” says Brown. Use a good moisturizer to nourish your skin all day, as well as to provide a base for and barrier between your makeup. After your moisturizer, use concealer. “You or your makeup artist should become a master of concealer,” says Brown. Follow with foundation, applying an extra layer on any blemishes, and then set with powder. “And unless you routinely get facials and never have a bad reaction, don’t get a facial the week before the big event.”
Makeup that’s long lasting, such as smudge-proof mascaras, long-wear eyeliners and shadows, bronzer/blush dual use powders, and multipurpose color palettes are popular for bridal makeup. “But don’t experiment with the makeup look of the moment for your wedding,” says Brown. “Makeup fads change as quickly as fashion trends do – the last thing you want to do is trap yourself in the moment’s trendy look and then regret the photographs in your wedding album.”
Finding the right colors for your complexion can be intimidating. For your wedding, you should wear an attractive shade of blush – pink if you have fair skin, rose if you’re dark. For your eyes, use white shadow as a highlighter on your brow if you have light skin; and a warm, light peach or vanilla highlighter if you have dark skin, says Brown. “In general keep shadow colors light to medium. Pale or brown colors can wash out your face in photos.” Charcoal, navy, or mahogany hues are nice options for eyeliner, and always wear black or brown mascara. For your lips, it’s a good idea – no matter what your skin color – to brighten your lip shade slightly.
Remember to keep your lipstick and pressed powder in your bridal bag for touchups.
Perfect hair
“It’s important to have your wedding dress picked out before you choose your hairstyle,” says Honolulu-based celebrity and bridal hairstylist Dorys Foltin. “Your gown is the foundation that you build from, and then you dress up your look with your hairstyle and makeup.” Besides your dress, your headpiece or veil, ceremony location and time, and the theme of your wedding are important factors in deciding on the bridal hairstyle that works best for you.
“The key to having perfect wedding hair is finding a style that reflects who you are,” says Foltin. First, select your favorite hairstyle choices by browsing through magazines. Then take the tear sheets to your hairstylist, who will help you find the right look that compliments your hair texture and color, facial structure, and personality.
Keep in mind that the best hairstylists are booked a year in advance; if you can, start looking for yours 13-14 months prior to your wedding day. “Get referrals by asking your married friends, visiting local salons, and checking out local stylists listings (like on longislandbrideandgroom.com), and then check out their hairstyle portfolio either in person or online. Once you’ve narrowed down your list of stylists to your top five choices, meet with each of them for a complimentary consultation. “Take the time to make sure you are completely comfortable with your wedding hairstylist before you trust him or her with your tresses,” says Foltin.
When you’ve found your stylist and have some ideas of styles you want, have a trial session before your big day. “This is priceless,” says Foltin. “Knowing what you’ll look like before the wedding day will give you peace of mind.” Communicate with your stylist from day one. “He or she should tell you if you need to trim your hair for split ends, reshape your current cut to blend better with your hairstyle of choice, or get color to create more dimension for your hairdo. These appointments are usually scheduled two weeks prior to the wedding.”
Whether you’re wearing your hair up or down, soft looks are what’s in and the most flattering.
Don’t be surprised if your groom doesn’t compliment you, he’s probably just speechless over how stunning you look.