I’ve been a little bit busy lately, no, not simply because I’m a woman in the 21st century juggling many things, but because I’m getting married.
With just over 20 weeks to go I have my dream dress, dream location and vendors locked in. Being the ‘thruster organiser’ that I am, I’m feeling prepared and quietly confident (or not so!) for our big day.
There’s only one final big preparation – the thing that sadly matters more to me than the dress or perfecting the bridal waltz. It requires vigilance and commitment right up until the walk down the aisle, and that’s my skin and beauty routine to ensure I’m a glowing bride.
Sticking to a skin and beauty routine has been embedded in me since my teenage years, however I decided now was the time to step it all up a notch and invest in things I would otherwise ignore due to the price tag. If there was a time to go all out for the health of my skin and hair, it was now!
As soon as I became engaged I saw a great opportunity to go out and purchase a new range of skincare products! Although I’ve used some beautiful products in the past, I can’t go past Antipodes Skincare which is gentle on my skin and doesn’t cost the earth. Naturally, being such an occasion as a woman’s wedding, I had to buy almost every product in the range.
Antipodes Skincare really deserves a feature article all on its own. The facial serums are to die for, the Aura Manuka Honey face mask leaves my skin glowing and the Reincarnation Pure Facial Exfoliator is gentle and effective. What better way to treat my skin and get it into tip top shape?
Six months out, I went and met with my beauty therapist who took a look at my skin under a facial skin scanner. The scanner recognised that my skin was a bit dehydrated and there was some scarring I wasn’t having a bar of. To address these issues, along with my regular routine, I booked in for one oxygen facial and one facial peel every month leading up to my big date.
Oxygen facials deliver a mixture of hyperbaric oxygen, or pure oxygen at a high pressure, and anti-aging serum through an airbrush to the face and body. It’s almost as though someone is using a tiny power washer to pump oxygen and moisturiser into the skin. I’m amazed at the results after my first, and can’t wait to see what my skin looks and feels like after another five.
The facial peel technique is used to improve and smooth the texture of the facial skin using a chemical solution that causes the dead skin to slough off and eventually peel off – perfect for making scars vanish and allowing new skin to be on show.
To ensure my hair is in tip-top condition, I’ve booked a haircut every six weeks, something I’m usually pretty slack at. I also went out and purchased my favorite Pureology haircare range for damaged hair.
To give my hair an extra special treatment and boost I booked a series of Nanokeratin treatments. I had a couple six months before and another which will be done a week before my wedding.
The name Nanokeratin stems from the term “nano-molecules of keratin”. A nano-molecule is 0.000000001 of the size of a regular molecule, thus allowing it to penetrate the smallest fissures in the hair and fill them with keratin (the substance that makes hair strong, shiny and soft). As a result of the process, hair becomes smooth, healthy and full of shine.
It seems like a lot to think about but believe me, I’ve found my beauty preparation more exciting than some aspects of the wedding planning itself. It’s an excuse to try new things and really have some pampering. However, all this preparation would be redundant if I decided to stuff myself with processed fatty foods, sugar and chemicals.
I’ve therefore attempted to incorporate more ‘skin loving’ foods into my diet such as salmon, almonds, green tea, blueberries, green leafy veggies and, of course, lots of water. Although it’s been easy enough to eat these foods daily, letting go of Pinot Gris on a Friday night and our Sunday night fish and chips binge hasn’t – I can’t stop living for the sake of one day after all!
The point here being, however, that the skin is considered the outside indicator of inside health, and putting expensive creams, lotions and treatments on the outside of the skin can’t alleviate problems that stem from inner nutritional deficiencies. Consuming the right foods and avoiding the wrong ones can reveal beautiful, youthful-looking skin.
That fact is helpful to me who, once the wedding is over and done with, will no doubt feel a bit deprived without the fortnightly facials and hair treatments!
What kind of inner or outer beauty preparation have you done in the past before a big event? What do you think works well?
By Amanda Jones