Set yourself up to Succeed Mentally, Emotionally, Spiritually and Physically

 

1.    Breathe…Take time out to center yourself and relax as often as possible.

2.    Visualize…See yourself relaxed and feeling warm and beautiful with all of your needs met on your wedding day.

3.    Trust Yourself & Try to Lower any Expectations of Perfection… Remember, as long as you choose to stay grounded and express your needs to a professional who is willing to listen to you, chances are, your needs will be met.

4.    Be Flexible & Try to Stay Open…You’d be surprised at what you’ll discover actually works better for you than you could have originally imagined.

5.    Nourish Your Body…Bring healthy snacks or protein bars and water to the location on the day of. As well as eat healthy, drink plenty of water and exercise at whatever level you are comfortable with on a weekly basis leading up to your wedding day.

6.    Don’t Stress out About Body Image…Remember, your fiancé loves you exactly as you are Right Now. Only alter what innately feels good to you and what you feel you are realistically capable of.

7.    Read Inspiring Quotes & Affirmations…Stick them to your walls, mirrors, dashboards-wherever you want to acknowledge them.

8.    Have Fun…Focus on laughing, giggling, playing and looking for the joy. It’s about loving yourself, your fiancé, your friends and family and your journey…Take the necessary steps to set yourself up to succeed and then allow yourself to sit back and watch the rest magically unfold.

9.    Create Stress Outlets…Lean on a friend, journal, dance, do yoga, rent a romantic movie, take a Roman Holiday, have a good cry, tell your fiancé you want to get him alone and NOT talk about the wedding plans…whatever works for you.

 

 

Dos and Don’ts Prior to the Wedding Day

 

1.    Don’t wax eyebrows within 5 days prior to the wedding day, unless you usually wax them and experience minimal side effects.

2.    Don’t do a facial within 7 days of your wedding day, unless you get them regularly and you know you won’t break out as a result. Instead, get facials leading up to a week before and then, the week of make sure to use a gentle scrub two times that week but no more. This way the skin will stay polished and the skincare and make up will wear more effectively. (Do not scrub over areas that are broken out.)

3.    Do not tamper too much with a blemish if you do not normally get them. You usually do more damage then good by drying it out too fast or scarring the skin. Let it heal on its own. Apply a warm wash cloth and a little pressure only. Then wipe with a tissue. If you do normally tend to break out and you have prescription medication that helps, use this until the problem clears up. Then make sure to moisturize day and night with an oil-free moisturizer that also hydrates the skin. If the medication makes the skin rough and flaky, make up will not wear well. Therefore, we need to discuss your specific circumstances and come up with a plan that prepares your particular skin for make up.

4.    Don’t make any significant changes to your hair before the wedding day without consulting your hair stylist. Another consultation may be necessary to ensure a smooth application on the day of.

5.    Do moisturize your skin day and night at least one week prior to the wedding day. Oil-free moisturizer for oily skin. This will help your skin look fresh and it will also help your make up wear more flawlessly.

6.    Do wear eye cream day and night at least one week prior to the wedding day. This is very important because it makes a significant difference in reducing the look of stress around your eyes and it also makes the concealer and powder wear better. Remember to put it on the inner corner of the eye, as well. This is where we are generally the darkest and the driest and therefore, look the most tired. Your skin will be incredibly grateful.

7.    Do use a gentle scrub two times a week leading up to your wedding day. However, do not use the scrub on broken out areas as it will scar and take longer to heal.

8.    Do drink plenty of water. This will nourish your skin, as well.

9.    Do come on the wedding day without any make up or moisturizer on and have your hair prepared as discussed in the consultation.

 

Products I Recommend

 

1.    Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler…This curler is more effective at curling the lashes than any other brand on the market. (Barneys New York, Shu Uemura Studio in Hollywood)

2.    Bobbi Brown Skincare…Her skincare was created specifically to both nourish and prime the skin for make up. (Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks, Bloomingdale’s)

3.    Bobbi Brown Cosmetics…I will walk you through which formulas work best for both your skin and your concerns. We will create your color scheme together.

 

Make up Facts & Myths

 

1.    Make up is Maintenance…Contrary to what advertisers have tried to convince you of, there is no make up product that wears well all day. The key word here is “well”. The products that are intended to wear all day generally turn dry and unnatural looking and still need to be touched up. Now, there are exceptions to every rule. For instance, mascara and certain eye shadows can wear pretty well all day. However, if you want your make up to look fresh and beautiful, it is necessary to reapply a couple of products at least once or twice throughout the day.

 

Knowing the difference in product performance and characteristics, using quality products from professional artistry lines and familiarizing yourself with good technique will definitely help keep maintenance to a minimum. Sometimes you can get lucky with drug store products, as well. Just look at it this way, we weren’t born with make up. It isn’t our natural state. Therefore, it’s going to take a little effort to maintain it. If you accept that you will have to maintain your make up at some point throughout the day, you will be much happier living in reality instead of constantly being disappointed by an unreasonable expectation.

 

2.    Make up Starts with Skincare…In order for make up to look natural and flawless, it has to be applied to a polished and hydrated surface. Whether you wear make up or not, your skin naturally desires regular sloughing and hydrating. This, along with your positive outlook, is what gives your face a beautiful glow. Just think of your skin like a plant. It can droop and age quite rapidly without nourishment and maintenance. The good news is that your skin can recover rather quickly. A good moisturizer and drinking plenty of water can replenish the skin on your face as rapidly as a can of water will replenish a drooping plant.

 

Basically, your skin should be soft with some bounce to it. And, women with oily skin, don’t think you don’t need moisturizer…Oil sits on top of your skin…It does not hydrate the skin. You need to polish and hydrate, as well. You just need to choose a quality oil-free moisturizer. Get in the habit of putting your moisturizer by your toothbrush or vanity and put your exfoliator in the shower. This way, you’re more inclined to use it.

 

Final Note…

 

These are all just tips to help enhance your inner and outer beauty. The best advice I have to offer is this...You are beautiful no matter what flower you choose to display, no matter what style you choose to wear your hair, no matter what venue you choose to get married in, etc…

In fact…

 

“You already are the shining star you’d like to be. Just allow yourself to sparkle naturally and the details will fall into place, like magic…”