Every bride wants to feel beautiful on her wedding day. But rather than scheduling a flurry of spa appointments the week before your wedding, experts advise planning ahead—way ahead—to slim down,perfect your skin and otherwise make this the most memorable and beautiful day of your life.
[common sense]
Drinking plenty of water will help prevent dry, flaky skin. And, of course, wearing sunscreen and a hat will keep your skin protected from those harmful UV rays.“If you want to look tan for your wedding, try a spray tan. But make sure to exfoliate before the treatment and do a test run weeks before the wedding,” Muccini advises.
[pre-wedding skin care]
Brides spend countless hours picking out their dream dress and other externals, forgetting that nothing is more important to their bridal look than their skin. But great skin is not something you can achieve overnight. You need to plan ahead and work with professionals.
have a plan
It’s never too early to meet with an esthetician or dermatologist to discuss your concerns: large pores, uneven skin tone, acne or fine lines and wrinkles. Develop an individualized skin care regimen and allow time for facials, peels and other protocals that can replace that flawed outer layer of skin with the glowing complexion you want.
According to Dr. Amy Miller, an aesthetic medicine specialist at St. Louis Skin Solutions, most regimens follow three basic steps: cleanse, correct and protect. For example, in the morning, use a gentle cleanser, an antioxidant to correct, and a sunscreen to protect. A similar night routine might include a gentle cleanser, an anti-aging product like retinol and a moisturizer.
Rather than spending a fortune at the drugstore or make-up counter, consult with a professional to identify the best products for you. “An at-home medical-grade skin routine can provide more vibrant and healthy-looking skin,” says Jackie Carr, R.N., an aesthetic nurse at Ophthalmic Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Inc.
acing acne
Carr says acne is not cured, but treated. “In many cases, there are simple tricks that can help reduce the severity and frequency of acne breakouts. If the patient is suffering from mild to moderate acne, there are many topical products, cleaning techniques and in-office procedures that can be helpful over time,” she says.
Depending on the severity of the acne, it could take from two months to a year to get under control, says Dr. Joe Muccini of Midamerica Skin, Health & Vitality Center. If you wake up with a pimple on the day of the wedding, Muccini says your best bet is make-up. “Don’t do anything aggressive like warm compresses, needles, etc.,” he warns. “Try to cover it up with make-up and tell your photographer so they can work around it.”
[wrinkles and fine lines]
“Botox is a no-brainer for brides who want to smooth frown lines and have an overall brighter look,” Muccini says. He recommends Botox two weeks before the wedding to give it time to settle and to allow for touch ups if needed.
Fillers are another option to plump thin lips, soften facial creases and treat wrinkles. “I really encourage patients to do fillers four to six weeks before their wedding because the procedure can cause bruising and swelling,” Muccini says. He also recommends Pellevé, a non-invasive radiofrequency device, to treat mild to moderate wrinkles.
[facials]
Facials are a nice way to pamper yourself before the wedding and can improve your skin’s texture and overall tone, but Muccini says a single facial probably will not alter skin appearance. “I recommend making facials a part of your skin care regimen and starting four to six months before your wedding,” he says. “This will also give you the opportunity to establish a relationship with an esthetician.” Spa facials provide a deeper exfoliation and cleanse than is possible at home. They usually include a double cleanse with steam, exfoliation, extraction and mask. They may also include microdermabrasion and chemical peels, depending on your needs.
[laser hair removal]
Your wedding day is not the time to fret about hair where you don’t want it. Experts say today’s treatments are more effective, less painful and more affordable than ever. It’s no surprise that laser hair removal is very popular among brides—and grooms. Just think how nice it will be relaxing on the beach during your honeymoon without worrying about your bikini line, back hair or leg stubble—not to mention unwanted hair on the upper lip, neck or underarms.
it’s magic!
Laser hair removal delivers a specific amount of light and heat to ultimately destroy the follicle, explains Dr. Judith Gurley, director of Dr. Judith Gurley Plastic Surgery & Spa. As a result, the hair follicles vaporize and lose the ability to produce hair.
Because the laser targets the pigment in the hair follicle, the best candidates are people with dark, course hair and lightly pigmented skin, according to Dr. Richard Moore, medical director of The Lifestyle Center and Hair Restoration. “The darker and coarser the hair follicle is, the more energy it will absorb. Conversely, it takes more treatments to treat African American skin.”
According to Moore, facial hair is the treatment area most commonly requested by women. The bikini area, underarms and legs also are popular. For men, the back and shoulders, followed by the chest and abdomen are the most requested treatment areas. Moore says he will treat any area except the space between the eyebrows, which presents a risk to the eye.
easy as pie
“The newest lasers are highly effective and, unlike previous generations of lasers, are not painful,” says Moore. “Pricing also has come down dramatically.”
Additional benefits of laser hair removal, according to WebMD, include the precision of the lasers (targeting dark, coarse hairs while leaving the surrounding skin undamaged) and speed of treatment (lasers can treat an area approximately the size of a quarter every second).
plan ahead
The most common mistake made by brides is not starting treatments early enough. “On average, it takes six to eight treatments over a period of six to 12 months to achieve optimal results,” Gurley says, because hair grows in cycles, transitioning from the active growth cycle (anagen) into the resting phase and then shedding (telogen cycle). Removal most effectively targets the hair follicles that are in the active phase.
Even after a complete series of treatments, patients can expect to see some regrowth. “Laser hair removal is better described as permanent hair reduction, because a majority of patients still will have occasional growth here or there. Touch-up treatments are recommended if you are experiencing regrowth,” Gurley says. Fortunately, the hair that does grow back is typically finer and lighter than before.
do your homework
Choose a medical spa or facility that employs a dedicated laser specifically for hair removal. “The 805- and 810-nm diode lasers are the best out there for hair removal,” Moore says. And avoid waxing, he says, which pulls out the follicle, at least six weeks before your treatment and in between treatments. Also avoid tanning, which will lessen the contrast between your skin and hair, making it harder for the laser to target follicles.
know what to expect
Laser hair removal feels like a light rubber band snap. The newer lasers cool the skin before and after each pulsation to minimize discomfort. For a day or two after, the treated area might look and feel like it is sunburnt. Your treated hair will fall out over the next month or so. Initially, treatments can be scheduled every four to six weeks, Moore says. After roughly four treatments, you can spread treatments out to every eight to 10 weeks.
[bridal boot camp]
Even though many brides and grooms want to pare down a size or two for the big day, experts say crash dieting and excessive cardio can be a recipe for disaster. Instead, they recommend following a safe and rigorous exercise plan and eating a balanced diet. Many brides-to-be step up their exercise and diet routine before that final fitting. But do they know what they’re doing in the gym? When the stakes are high, it’s time to bring in the professionals.
the six-month plan
Six months is an ideal amount of time to shape up for the wedding. “I have people in my program who’ve lost 40 or more pounds of fat in less than six months,” says Steve Baum, owner of Iron Tribe Fitness in Brentwood.
For brides who are not currently physically active, it’s important to spend the first month of training easing into exercise. “Ideally, we would meet three times a week for weight training and she would do 20 to 30 minutes of cardio three times a week on her own,” says Eric Emig, a personal trainer at Evolution Fitness. “The weight training would start light and basic, progressing to heavier weight and more complex movements.”
Emig also says it’s important to use the proper form and technique to avoid injury. After a month or two, he says, people can typically start adjusting the intensity of their workout by reducing rest time between weight sets and incorporating bursts of high-intensity cardio. During this time, the bride would increase her homework cardio to 30 to 40 minutes at least three times a week.
Three to four months into the program, Emig recommends adjusting to a more ‘boot camp’ style of training. “This would consist of no rest between sets and moving from one exercise to the next with a burst of cardio at the end of each round of weight exercises. Homework would increase to 40 minutes of cardio, three to five times a week,” Emig says.
home work
If you do not belong to a gym, it’s still possible to get a good workout at home, Emig says. “The best exercises are body weight, compound exercises like squats, lunges, push-ups, pull-ups, deadlifts and chair dips. Grouping several exercises together is great, too, such as a squat with an overhead dumbbell press, a squat with a dumbbell curl, a chair dip with a knee raise, or a push-up with a dumbbell row. For bursts of cardio, jumping jacks, jumping rope, and using your staircase for step-ups are great choices,” Emig says.
But whatever you do, avoid crash dieting and excessive cardio, Baum adds. “That’s a quick way to lose muscle and gain fat,” he warns.
eat better
Exercise is only half the equation, says Baum, who notes that proper nutrition is essential, especially when the bride has only a few months to get in shape before the wedding. “I recommend clients eat grams of protein equal to pounds of body weight. For example, if someone weighs 150 pounds, they eat 150 grams of protein daily. I recommend 50 grams less of carbohydrates than bodyweight initially, then adjust as needed. For 150 pounds it would be 100 grams of carbs daily. The remainder of calories is made up from healthy fats,” he notes.
have fun!
Getting in shape can be fun, especially if you exercise with your fiancé. And research shows that people who exercise together are much more likely to stick with a routine. “The bride and groom are both striving for the same goal: to look amazing! With a target date in sight, they will help each other stick to the plan. It’s also a great bonding experience,” Baum notes.